Exopolysaccharide Production by Lag-Phase Control in Lactic Acid Bacteria
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for increasing exopolysaccharide production in lactic acid bacteria are complex and may not be suitable for food applications, necessitating a simpler and more effective approach.
Innovation Solution
Prolonging the lag phase of exopolysaccharide-producing bacteria by 10% or more through treatments such as heat, osmotic pressure, or pH adjustments, followed by culturing in a medium to enhance exopolysaccharide production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional methods (adding formic acid, heat treatment, pH buffering agents) are used to increase exopolysaccharide production, then production amount is improved, but process complexity increases and suitability for food applications decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical-chemical parameters of the culture medium by controlling pH within a specific range (5.0-7.0) and adding calcium ions at a specific concentration (1-10 mM), which triggers a significant increase in exopolysaccharide production without requiring complex processing steps or multiple additives
2Quantity of substance
If conventional methods (adding formic acid, pH buffering agents) are used to increase exopolysaccharide production, then production amount is improved, but suitability for food applications worsens due to use of chemical additives
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces complex chemical additives with simple, food-compatible substances (pH adjustment using food-safe acids/bases and calcium ions from common calcium sources), making the process suitable for food applications while maintaining high exopolysaccharide production
3Quantity of substance
If Streptococcus thermophilus is grown together with Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus to increase exopolysaccharide production, then production amount is improved, but growth control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses pH control (maintaining pH 5.0-7.0) and calcium ion addition to selectively promote the growth of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus while suppressing Streptococcus thermophilus, simplifying the co-culture system without requiring complex growth control mechanisms
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method efficiently increases exopolysaccharide production, enhancing its functional properties in food products, and allows for improved application in foods.
Implementation Method 1
treating an exopolysaccharide-producing bacterium under a condition that a lag phase is prolonged by 10% or more... treatments such as heat, osmotic pressure, or pH adjustments
Implementation Method 2
treating an exopolysaccharide-producing bacterium under a condition that a lag phase is prolonged by 10% or more... treatments such as heat, osmotic pressure, or pH adjustments
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a means for increasing a production amount of exopolysaccharides that can be applied to foods and is simpler. Provided is a method for producing an exopolysaccharide, the method including : treating an exopolysaccharide-producing bacterium under a condition that a lag phase is prolonged by 10% or more; and producing an exopolysaccharide by culturing the treated exopolysaccharide-producing bacterium in a medium. Provided is a composition containing any lactic acid bacterium of a bacterium belonging to Lactobacillus delbrueckii having an ability to produce an exopolysaccharide of 30 mg/kg or more, a bacterium belonging to Streptococcus thermophilus having an ability to produce an exopolysaccharide of 69 mg/kg or more, and a bacterium belonging to Bifidobacterium breve having an ability to produce an exopolysaccharide of 4.2 mg/kg or more.