title: Indigenous Starter Cultures to Improve Quality of Artisanal Dry Fermented Sausages from Chaco (Argentina).
abstract: Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and coagulase negative cocci (CNC) were isolated from artisanal dry sausages sampled from the northeastern region of Chaco, Argentina. In order to evaluate their performance in situ and considering technological features of the isolated strains, two mixed selected autochthonous starter cultures (SAS) were designed: (i) SAS-1 (Lactobacillus sakei 487 + Staphylococcus vitulinus C2) and (ii) SAS-2 (L. sakei 442 + S. xylosus C8). Cultures were introduced into dry sausage manufacturing process at a local small-scale facility. Microbiological and physicochemical parameters were monitored throughout fermentation and ripening periods, while sensory attributes of the final products were evaluated by a trained panel. Lactic acid bacteria revealed their ability to colonize and adapt properly to the meat matrix, inhibiting the growth of spontaneous microflora and enhancing safety and hygienic profile of the products. Both SAS showed a beneficial effect on lipid oxidation and texture of the final products. Staphylococcus vitulinus C2, from SAS-1, promoted a better redness of the final product. Sensory profile revealed that SAS addition preserved typical sensory attributes. Introduction of these cultures could provide an additional tool to standardize manufacturing processes aiming to enhance safety and quality while keeping typical sensory attributes of regional dry fermented sausages.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Microbiología de Alimentos, Universidad Nacional del Chaco Austral, Comandante Fernández 755, Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña, 3700 Chaco, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), C1033AAJ Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Noelia Z
authors.initials: NZ
authors.lastname: Palavecino Prpich
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Microbiología de Alimentos, Universidad Nacional del Chaco Austral, Comandante Fernández 755, Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña, 3700 Chaco, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), C1033AAJ Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Marcela P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Microbiología de Alimentos, Universidad Nacional del Chaco Austral, Comandante Fernández 755, Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña, 3700 Chaco, Argentina.
authors.forename: María E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Cayré
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Microbiología de Alimentos, Universidad Nacional del Chaco Austral, Comandante Fernández 755, Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña, 3700 Chaco, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), C1033AAJ Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Oscar A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Garro
authors.affiliation: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), C1033AAJ Buenos Aires, Argentina; Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos (CERELA), Chacabuco 145, San Miguel de Tucumán, 4000 Tucumán, Argentina.
authors.forename: Graciela M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Vignolo