Changes in the Lactobacillus community during Ricotta forte cheese natural fermentation
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 10, 2026

Novel Production Protocol for Small-scale Manufacture of Probiotic Fermented Foods
Published on: September 10, 2016
F Baruzzi1, M Morea, A Matarante
1Istituto Tossine e Micotossine da Parassiti Vegetali, Bari, Italy. fedbar@rocketmail.com
Abstract:
The loss of microbial biodiversity due to the increase in large-scale industrial processes led to the study of the natural microflora present in a typical little known dairy product. The community of lactobacilli was studied in order to understand the natural fermentation of Ricotta forte cheese. The combined use of RAPD analysis, 16S rDNA sequencing and physiological tests allowed 33 different strains belonging to 10 species of Lactobacillus to be characterized. RAPD analysis revealed the heterogeneity of both the Lact. kefiri and Lact. paracasei species. The sequence analysis of the large 16S/23S rRNA spacer region enabled Lact. plantarum to be distinguished from Lact. paraplantarum, two closely related species belonging to the Lact. plantarum group. The recovery of strains endowed with interesting physiological characteristics, such as strong stress resistance, could improve technological and/or organoleptic characteristics of Ricotta forte cheese and other fermented foods.
Related Concept Videos
Microbes in the Production of Fermented Foods
Microbes in Food Production
Production of Organic Acids
Probiotics
Microbiota of the Large Intestine
Bacterial Phylum Firmicutes
