Patent ID: 6159724
Filing Date: 2000-12-12
Classification: C12N,Y10S

Abstract:
A process for preparing a culture medium which can be used to make yeast cultures, lactic acid bacteria cultures, and cocultures of yeast and lactic acid bacteria, said process comprising the steps of:(a) making in a bioreactor a first medium by preparing a first dilute aqueous mixture comprising yeast autolysate and whole-meal or wheat germ, said first dilute aqueous mixture comprising starch and gluten;adding at least one alpha-amylase and at least one amyloglucosidase to hydrolyze said starch in said first dilute aqueous mixture into fermentable sugar;adding at least one proteolytic enzyme of food quality to hydrolyze at least part of said gluten in said first dilute aqueous mixture into aromatic peptides and into free amino acids in amounts effective to promote microbial growth; andsterilizing said first medium;at no time any supplemental chemical additives being added to said first aqueous dilute mixture other than table salt;(b) making in a bioreactor a second medium by preparing a second dilute aqueous mixture comprising yeast autolysate and wheat germ, said second dilute aqueous mixture comprising starch and proteins;adding at least one alpha-amylase to hydrolyze said starch in said second dilute aqueous mixture into fermentable sugar;adding at least one proteolytic enzyme of food quality to hydrolyze at least part of said proteins in said second dilute aqueous mixture into aromatic peptides and into free amino acids in amounts effective to promote microbial growth; andsterilizing said second medium;at no time any supplemental chemical additives being added to said second dilute aqueous mixture other than table salt;wherein hydrolyzing with the alpha-amylase, amyloglucosidase and proteolytic enzyme in (a) and with the alpha-amylase and proteolytic enzyme in (b) are effected without pH regulation; and(c) combining said first medium and said second medium to form said culture medium at a time when said culture medium is used to make yeast cultures, lactic acid bacteria cultures, cocultures of yeast and lactic acid bacteria.