Contributions to our understanding of lactic acid bacteria

Written by ADSA Graduate Student Division member Brianda Gonzalez Orozco of The Ohio State University

The Dairy Foods Symposium: Todd R. Klaenhammer Memorial Symposium—Contributions to Our Understanding of Lactic Acid Bacteria at ADSA’s Annual Meeting began by paying tribute to the remarkable career and contributions of Todd R. Klaenhammer, PhD, who greatly enhanced our understanding of genomes and phages of lactic acid bacteria. His pioneering work has laid the foundation for our current knowledge in this field.

The first presentation, by Rodolphe Barrangou, PhD, focused on revolutionary clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) technology and its potential applications in the dairy industry. One notable application discussed was the ability to trace probiotic and starter strains, which offers new possibilities for quality control and product authenticity.

Colin Hill, PhD, then delved into the fascinating world of bacteriophage–bacterial interactions, drawing from his research as a postdoctoral fellow under Klaenhammer. His talk shed light on the role of bacteriocins and their impact on these interactions, providing valuable insights into microbial dynamics.

The presentation from Andrea Azcárate-Peril, PhD, on probiotics and prebiotics emphasized the importance of strain-level screening and customization for achieving individualized gut homeostasis. She highlighted the potential of certain Bifidobacterium species in addressing conditions such as cognitive decline and lactose intolerance. Azcárate-Peril also emphasized the promising effects of galactooligosaccharides and other bacterial polysaccharides as prebiotics, and shed light on their potential benefits in supporting healthy gut microbiota.

The discussion then shifted to the market for dairy products, with a particular focus on the recent questioning of health benefits despite dairy’s long-standing reputation. David Mills, PhD, emphasized the historical significance of dairy products as a means of delivering probiotics and shaping the microbiomes of mammals. He outlined key factors that contribute to an ideal probiotic substrate, including inherent antimicrobial activity, host-modification capabilities, and the potential for prebiotic enrichment. Notably, he shared findings from his recent paper, which highlighted the contrast in Bifidobacterium infantis levels between Bangladeshi and American children, with breastfeeding practices identified as a contributing factor.

The symposium concluded with a toast in honor of Klaenhammer led by Barrangou, which served as a fitting tribute to his enduring legacy.

ADSA Annual Meeting

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