The aim of this project was to study the influence of the bacteria Bacillus and Lactobacillus, as well as their metabolic products to decrease the cellular viability of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The bacteria Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus stearothermophilus, Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus plantarum were cultivated in association with yeast S. cerevisiae (strain Y-904) for 72 hours at 32 ºC under agitation. The cellular viability, budding rate and population of S. Cerevisiae and the total acidity, volatile acidity and pH of culture medium were determined at 0, 24, 48 and 72 hours of incubation of the mixed culture. The bacteria cultures were treated by heat sterilization, antibacterial agent and irradiation. The results showed that only the more acidified culture medium, contaminated with active bacteria L. fermentum and B. subtilis, caused a reduction in the yeast cellular viability. Except for the bacteria B. subtilis treated for radiation, the other bacteria treated by the different procedures (heat, radiation and antibacterial) did not cause a reduction in the cellular viability of S. cerevisiae, indicating that the isolated presence of the cellular metabolic of these bacteria was not enough to reduce the percentage of the living yeast cells.
alcoholic fermentation; cellular viability; Saccharomyces cerevisiae
