Changes in the bacterial communities of vacuum-packaged pork during chilled storage analyzed by PCR-DGGE

In this study, PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was used to investigate the bacterial communities of vacuum-packaged pork during chilled storage. Eight kinds of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were identified from the strains isolated from MRS plates by PCR-DGGE of the V3 region, and Lactobacillus sakei was the representative isolate at the end of the monitoring. By means of the direct meat analysis of PCR-DGGE, LAB increased gradually and Carnobacterium sp./Car. divergens, Lactobacillus sakei and Lactococcus sp./Lc. piscium, became the predominant bacteria at the end of the storage. The results of Lactobacillus-specific PCR and DGGE showed that different Lactobacillus populations were present at different storage periods and Lb. sakei became the predominant bacteria in the end. In conclusion, the PCR-DGGE technique as a culture-independent method is applicable to monitoring bacterial population dynamics in vacuum-packaged pork.