Biotech Updates

Bacteriophages as Antimicrobial Agents against Bacterial Contaminants in Yeast Fermentation

September 3, 2014
http://www.biotechnologyforbiofuels.com/content/7/1/123

Yeast fermentation is vulnerable to contamination by other organisms such as lactic acid bacteria, which in turn can reduce biofuel yield and inhibit yeast growth. Dominic Sauvageau from the University of Alberta in Canada investigated bacteriophages as potential antibacterial agents in fermentation.

The bacteriophages ATCC® 8014-B1™ and ATCC® 8014-B2™ were tested through the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Superstart™ yeast culture infected by Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC® 8014™. Results reveal that bacteria impeded yeast cultures growth, decreasing its ethanol production. However, the addition of the phage mixture of ATCC® 8014-B1™ and ATCC® 8014-B2™ reduced contamination by over 99 percent.

Phages are good candidates as antimicrobial agents in yeast fermentation processes. Their use along with other contamination prevention methods could further increase their efficacy.