NFOK14019U Microbiology of Fermented Food and Beverages

Volume 2019/2020
Education

MSc Programme in Food Science and Technology
MSc Programme in Food Innovation and Health
MSc Programme in Biochemistry
MSc Programme in Sustainable Development in Agriculture (Agris Mundus)

Content

The course will have major focus on the microorganisms involved in the processing of various fermented foods and beverages. The course will deal with the taxonomy of important microorganisms especially lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts including both phenotypic characteristics and molecular typing techniques for their identification as well as innovative methodologies to improve fermented foods and beverages.

Methods for isolation including both culture dependent and culture independent techniques will be covered. This will include techniques such as high-throughput sequencing as well as various tools for bioinformatics.

Various fermentation techniques will be introduced covering the use of starter cultures and other fermentation techniques such as back-slopping.

An introduction to various fermented foods and beverages will be given including products such as cheese, bread, wine and beer as well as a number of traditional indigenous fermented foods. Focus will additionally be on microbial interactions including topics such as quorum sensing, bacteriocin formation, etc.

 
Learning Outcome

The objective of the course is to give the students a thorough knowledge on the microbiology behind production of fermented food and beverages and to give the students skills within isolation and identification of microorganisms occurring in these products. Additionally the students will be able to evaluate the functionalities and applications of microbial starter cultures.

Knowledge:

  • Microbiology in general and more specifically on the taxonomy of important groups of microorganisms identified from fermented food and beverages
  • Microbial taxonomic systems
  • Molecular techniques for identification and typing
  • Microbial physiology
  • Functionalities of different microorganisms in fermented food and beverages produced world-wide
  • Microbial interactions 

 

Skills:

  • Development of procedures and plans for isolation and identification of the predominant microorganisms in fermented food and beverages
  • Ability to explain at the molecular level the behaviour and interaction between various groups of microorganisms
  • Ability to identify the most important parameters leading to optimal product quality and food safety
  • Applying food fermentation to develop innovative food products

 

Competences:

  • Isolation of microorganisms from different types of fermented food and beverages
  • Evaluation of the composition of the microbiota of fermented food and beverages
  • Identification of the predominant microorganisms by both phenotypic and genotypic methods
  • Description of presumed functionalities of microorganisms in fermented food or beverages
Literature

See Absalon for a list of course literature.

Basic knowledge on food microbiology is required. Laboratory experience with microbiology is an advantage though not a specific requirement.

Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.
Lectures, theoretical and laboratory practicals. The lectures will introduce issues of importance for the understanding of microbial behaviour during production of fermented food and beverages. The theoretical and laboratory practicals will give the students practice on how to identify various microorganisms from fermented food and beverages including skills within various molecular techniques. Knowledge on food innovation will be obtained through theoretical exercises.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 1
  • Lectures
  • 27
  • Practical exercises
  • 41
  • Preparation
  • 116
  • Theory exercises
  • 21
  • Total
  • 206
Oral
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Feedback by final exam (In addition to the grade)
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 20 min
Written assignment, during course
The students will hand in a report based on a theoretical topic and experimental results obtained during the practicals. At the time of the oral examination, one question is drawn, and the examination proceeds without preparation time. In due time before the exam the questions will be given to the students. At the oral exam, the drawn question and the curriculum will account for 75% of the grade. The written report and the discussion of the report will account for 25% of the grade.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
One-two internal examiner(s) and one external examiner.
Re-exam

The re-exam is the same as the ordinary exam. 

Modification of the report before the re-exam is accepted. The student should hand in the report no later than three weeks before the re-exam.

Criteria for exam assesment

See Learning Outcome