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Cytochemical observations on the extracellular carbohydrate produced by Streptococcus cremoris

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2009

B. E. Brooker
Affiliation:
National Institute for Research in Dairying, Shinfield, Reading, RG2 9AT

Summary

Electron microscopy showed that a varying proportion of cells of Streptococcus cremoris NCDO 924 grown in autoclaved skim-milk possessed a layer of extracellular material attached to the cell wall. Occasional filamentous extensions of this layer made contact with neighbouring casein micelles. The same surfacestaining material persisted during the production of cheese-curd, but after maximum scald it was predominantly filamentous in appearance. These filaments made frequent contact with the adjacent curd matrix and with milk-fat globules. Str. cremoris NCDO 1986 produced similar surface material when in curd, but not when grown in skim-milk. In all situations, the extracellular material stained with colloidal iron hydroxide, ruthenium red and periodic acid–thiosemicarbazide–silver proteinate, indicating that it was largely composed of an acidic carbohydrate. It is suggested that this carbohydrate facilitates the adhesion of starter bacteria to the cheese-curd matrix and that during the initial stages of syneresis this serves to prevent their expulsion from the curd with the whey.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Proprietors of Journal of Dairy Research 1976

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