Hands-on learning for probiotic quality assessment: enhancing microbiology education through applied microbial...

Area of Science:

• Food Microbiology
• Microbial Physiology
• Food Science Education

Background:

• Traditional food microbiology education relies on fact-based methods, potentially limiting student engagement and problem-solving skills.
• Microbial plate count is a crucial technique in food microbiology for research and quality control.
• Effective quantification of viable probiotic microorganisms is essential for product quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an engaging educational approach for food science students using advanced microbiological techniques.
• To assess the quality of various probiotic formulations through optimized microbial plate counts.
• To enhance students' understanding of viable and cultivable cell quantification in probiotics.

Main Methods:

• Eighty-two final-year Food Science and Technology students participated in a project combining general microbiology and microbial physiology.
• Students utilized flow cytometry for cell quantification to optimize microbial plate counts for probiotic products.
• Selection of appropriate culture media, incubation conditions, and treatments was guided by flow cytometry data.

Main Results:

• The project successfully integrated theoretical knowledge with practical application in probiotic formulation analysis.
• Students demonstrated enhanced understanding of viable and cultivable cell quantification techniques.
• Survey feedback revealed high student satisfaction, engagement, and perceived career relevance.

Conclusions:

• Combining diverse microbiological techniques, including flow cytometry and selective plating, improves food science education.
• This integrated approach fosters deeper comprehension of probiotic cultivability and the role of selective agents.
• The educational strategy effectively bridges theoretical concepts with practical skills for future food industry professionals.