Analysis of Microbial Diversity Dominating Nitrite Enzymatic Degradation and Acidic Degradation in the Fermentation Broth of Northeast Sauerkraut

Nitrite hazard is an important food safety issue in the production process of Chinese Northeastern sauerkraut, but this nitrite can be eliminated through microbial enzymatic degradation and acidic degradation as fermentation progresses. Therefore, analyzing the microbial diversity that dominates nit...

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Main Authors: Xiangru Xu, Meng Zhang, Yuefei Tao, Wei Wei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Foods
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/24/4168
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author Xiangru Xu
Meng Zhang
Yuefei Tao
Wei Wei
author_facet Xiangru Xu
Meng Zhang
Yuefei Tao
Wei Wei
author_sort Xiangru Xu
collection DOAJ
description Nitrite hazard is an important food safety issue in the production process of Chinese Northeastern sauerkraut, but this nitrite can be eliminated through microbial enzymatic degradation and acidic degradation as fermentation progresses. Therefore, analyzing the microbial diversity that dominates nitrite degradation in Chinese Northeastern sauerkraut can provide a reference for its safe production. In this study, based on the dynamic monitoring of nitrite concentration, pH, and the abundance of nitrite reductase genes (<i>nirK</i> and <i>nirS</i>) and the application of high-throughput sequencing technology and various statistical analysis methods, the microbial groups associated with nitrite enzymatic degradation and acidic degradation in Northeast sauerkraut fermentation broth were analyzed. During the nitrite peak period of Northeast sauerkraut fermentation broth, the nitrite concentration reached 32.15 mg/kg, the pH was 4.7, and the abundances of the nitrite reductase genes <i>nirK</i> and <i>nirS</i> were 3.0 × 10<sup>4</sup> and 4.9 × 10<sup>4</sup> copies/μL, respectively. At this stage, nitrite degradation was likely dominated by enzymatic activities. Microbial phyla such as <i>Bacteroidetes</i> (38.8%), <i>Proteobacteria</i> (19.2%), and the archaeal phylum <i>Euryarchaeota</i> (1.1%) showed strong correlations with nitrite. Among the genera within these three phyla, <i>Chryseobacterium</i>, <i>Elizabethkingia,</i> and <i>Aeromonas</i> exhibited significant differences in abundance compared to the late fermentation stage and were identified as the primary microbial groups likely driving the enzymatic degradation. During the nitrite degradation period, the nitrite concentration decreased to 0.04 mg/kg, the pH dropped to 3.6, and the abundances of <i>nirK</i> and <i>nirS</i> genes were reduced to 1.0 × 10<sup>3</sup> copies/μL. At this stage, the nitrite degradation was primarily driven by acid activity. The bacterial phylum <i>Firmicutes</i> (99%) exhibited a strong correlation with pH. Within this phylum, the genus <i>Lactobacillus</i>, which showed significant differences in abundance compared to the early fermentation stage, was identified as the primary microbial group indirectly contributing to acidic degradation. This study provides guidance for the isolation of food-grade prokaryotic microbial strains capable of nitrite degradation. Additionally, the findings offer a methodological reference for conducting future research on nitrite-degrading microorganisms in fermented vegetable broths.
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spelling doaj-art-e9d1e274b46745f59cda566f17c395bd2025-08-20T02:53:33ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582024-12-011324416810.3390/foods13244168Analysis of Microbial Diversity Dominating Nitrite Enzymatic Degradation and Acidic Degradation in the Fermentation Broth of Northeast SauerkrautXiangru Xu0Meng Zhang1Yuefei Tao2Wei Wei3School of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaSchool of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaSchool of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaSchool of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaNitrite hazard is an important food safety issue in the production process of Chinese Northeastern sauerkraut, but this nitrite can be eliminated through microbial enzymatic degradation and acidic degradation as fermentation progresses. Therefore, analyzing the microbial diversity that dominates nitrite degradation in Chinese Northeastern sauerkraut can provide a reference for its safe production. In this study, based on the dynamic monitoring of nitrite concentration, pH, and the abundance of nitrite reductase genes (<i>nirK</i> and <i>nirS</i>) and the application of high-throughput sequencing technology and various statistical analysis methods, the microbial groups associated with nitrite enzymatic degradation and acidic degradation in Northeast sauerkraut fermentation broth were analyzed. During the nitrite peak period of Northeast sauerkraut fermentation broth, the nitrite concentration reached 32.15 mg/kg, the pH was 4.7, and the abundances of the nitrite reductase genes <i>nirK</i> and <i>nirS</i> were 3.0 × 10<sup>4</sup> and 4.9 × 10<sup>4</sup> copies/μL, respectively. At this stage, nitrite degradation was likely dominated by enzymatic activities. Microbial phyla such as <i>Bacteroidetes</i> (38.8%), <i>Proteobacteria</i> (19.2%), and the archaeal phylum <i>Euryarchaeota</i> (1.1%) showed strong correlations with nitrite. Among the genera within these three phyla, <i>Chryseobacterium</i>, <i>Elizabethkingia,</i> and <i>Aeromonas</i> exhibited significant differences in abundance compared to the late fermentation stage and were identified as the primary microbial groups likely driving the enzymatic degradation. During the nitrite degradation period, the nitrite concentration decreased to 0.04 mg/kg, the pH dropped to 3.6, and the abundances of <i>nirK</i> and <i>nirS</i> genes were reduced to 1.0 × 10<sup>3</sup> copies/μL. At this stage, the nitrite degradation was primarily driven by acid activity. The bacterial phylum <i>Firmicutes</i> (99%) exhibited a strong correlation with pH. Within this phylum, the genus <i>Lactobacillus</i>, which showed significant differences in abundance compared to the early fermentation stage, was identified as the primary microbial group indirectly contributing to acidic degradation. This study provides guidance for the isolation of food-grade prokaryotic microbial strains capable of nitrite degradation. Additionally, the findings offer a methodological reference for conducting future research on nitrite-degrading microorganisms in fermented vegetable broths.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/24/4168northeast sauerkrauthigh-throughput sequencingprokaryotic microorganismsnitrite enzymatic degradationnitrite acidic degradation
spellingShingle Xiangru Xu
Meng Zhang
Yuefei Tao
Wei Wei
Analysis of Microbial Diversity Dominating Nitrite Enzymatic Degradation and Acidic Degradation in the Fermentation Broth of Northeast Sauerkraut
Foods
northeast sauerkraut
high-throughput sequencing
prokaryotic microorganisms
nitrite enzymatic degradation
nitrite acidic degradation
title Analysis of Microbial Diversity Dominating Nitrite Enzymatic Degradation and Acidic Degradation in the Fermentation Broth of Northeast Sauerkraut
title_full Analysis of Microbial Diversity Dominating Nitrite Enzymatic Degradation and Acidic Degradation in the Fermentation Broth of Northeast Sauerkraut
title_fullStr Analysis of Microbial Diversity Dominating Nitrite Enzymatic Degradation and Acidic Degradation in the Fermentation Broth of Northeast Sauerkraut
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of Microbial Diversity Dominating Nitrite Enzymatic Degradation and Acidic Degradation in the Fermentation Broth of Northeast Sauerkraut
title_short Analysis of Microbial Diversity Dominating Nitrite Enzymatic Degradation and Acidic Degradation in the Fermentation Broth of Northeast Sauerkraut
title_sort analysis of microbial diversity dominating nitrite enzymatic degradation and acidic degradation in the fermentation broth of northeast sauerkraut
topic northeast sauerkraut
high-throughput sequencing
prokaryotic microorganisms
nitrite enzymatic degradation
nitrite acidic degradation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/24/4168
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