Enrichment of milk with magnesium provides healthier and safer dairy products.

ABSTRACT: Biofilms on the surfaces of milk-processing equipment are often a major source of contamination of dairy products. Members of the genus Bacillus appear to be among the most commonly found bacteria in dairy farms and processing plants. Bacillus species may thrive in dairy farm equipment and in dairy products since they can form robust biofilms during growth within milk. We found that fortification of milk with magnesium mitigated biofilm formation by Bacillus species, and thus could notably reduce dairy product spoilage. We also show that the mode of action of Mg²⁺ ions is specific to inhibition of transcription of genes involved in biofilm formation. Our further findings indicate that in the presence of Mg²⁺ bacterial cells are hypersensitive to t

SUBMITTER: Ben-Ishay N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5636824 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature