Bee pollen is a bee product with a high concentration of nutrients and water. With this, it offers suitable conditions for the development of different microorganisms. The aim of this Master thesis was to examine the microbiological stability of fresh bee pollen at different storage temperatures and after drying at different drying conditions. High concentrations of yeasts (6,2 log CFU/g) and mesophilic aerobic microorganisms (6,0 log CFU/g) was observed in fresh bee pollen. The decrease in the microbial count was observed after drying at 35 °C and 30 °C for 72 h. During 12-month storage at 16 °C in darkness we did not observe any decrease in the shelf life of bee pollen. Bee pollen samples showed a high population of yeasts, among these the most representative species in fresh bee pollen were Metschnikowia sp., Lachancea thermotolerans, Meyerozyma guillermondii and Aurebasidium melanogenum, and in bee pollen samples after 5 weeks of storage Metschnikowia sp., Papilotrema flavescens and Lachancea thermotolerans. Growth of yeasts was monitored in the presence of bee pollen solution in YPD media and PBS broth as well as in YPD media containing ethanol solution. The antimicrobial activity of differently treated and stored bee pollen extracts was found against E. coli (MIC 5,9 – 25 mg/mL), C. jejuni (MIC 3,5 – 25 mg/mL) and L. monocytogenes (MIC 6,3 – 12,5 mg/mL). Drying has not reduced antimicrobial activity bee pollen extracts, but long-term storage increased differences between samples. Antimicrobial activity against L. monocytogenes has been reduced.
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