Detection and characterisation of milk-spoiling Pseudomonas proteases in UHT milk (POSTPSEUDO)

This project will investigate molecular, microbiological and immunological methods to predict and to improve the shelf-life of long-life dairy products. This will give the milk processing industry the ability to adapt the production process to the enzymatic quality of the raw material. As increasingly longer storage periods are used for farm milk, psychrotrophic microorganisms (especially Pseudomonas fragi, Pseudomonas lundensis, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas gessardii) are increasingly able to develop. These micro-organisms produce heat resistant lipases and proteases that can significantly limit the quality and shelf-life of UHT milk produced from this raw material. Avoiding production of proteases during the refrigerated storage of raw milk appears to be difficult in practice. This research is working on solutions geared toward dairy processing.

 

We primarily focus on the proteases which pose the highest risk for the shelf life of the milk. We purify these proteases in order to produce antibodies. On this basis, we develop an immunological assay which allows us to judge the enzymatic quality of the raw milk.

Methods by which the quality of the raw milk and the shelf life of processed milk can be predicted allow the producer to adjust the processing chain in accordance with the enzymatic characteristics of the milk. This allows for optimal valorisation of the milk and minimises loss.

External partner(s)
Gentaur Belgium bvba
Inex
UCL - Université Catholique de Louvain-la-Neuve - Fac. D'ingénieri biologique, agronomique et Environnementale - AGRO
Ugent - Fac. Bio-ingenieurswetenschappen
WIV - Wetenschappelijk Instituut voor Volksgezondheid