Universal lactic acid bacteria quantification kit for fermentation monitoring

A composition of DNA oligonucleotides comprising:

• i) a forward primer having a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of an LAB hybridizing sequence substantially corresponding to either GGAGGCAGCAGTAGGGAATC (SEQ ID NO:
• 1) and GCGGTAATACGTAGGTGGCA (SEQ ID NO:
• 4);
• and
• ii) a reverse primer having a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of an LAB hybridizing sequence substantially corresponding to one of TGCCACCTACGTATTACCGC (SEQ ID NO:
• 3), ACCGCTACACATGGAGTTCC (SEQ ID NO:
• 6), ACGCTTGCCACCTACGTATT (SEQ ID NO:
• 7) and GCCACCTACGTAT (SEQ ID NO:
• 8).

A method of preparing DNA of a sample of interest drawn from a fermentation tank or related to evaluating a fermentation procedure for a PCR analysis, comprising:

• i) obtaining the sample of interest from a fermentation tank or a sampling related to evaluating a process involving a fermentation procedure;
• ii) passing the sample of interest through a plurality of filters wherein a final filter having a pore size of greater than 100 μm, but less than about 300 μm, is used to form a final filtrate;
• iii) forming a pellet from the final filtrate;
• and
• iv) homogenizing the pellet to form a homogenate.

A filtration apparatus comprising:

• a barrel defining an interior space configured for containing an LAB-containing sample of interest;
• a plunger fitted snugly but movably within the barrel;
• a filter sized to allow LAB cells or other cells of interest to pass through pores in the filter, but to substantially screen out bulk organic matter contained in the LAB-containing sample of interest, thereby forming an LAB-cell containing filtrate,
• a receptacle portion of the apparatus located adjacent to the filter for receiving and containing the LAB-cell containing filtrate after its passage through the filter, or a conduit for transfer of the LAB-cell containing filtrate to such a receptacle;
• and
• a device attached or integral to the plunger for urging the LAB-containing sample of interest toward the screen mesh and facilitating removal of any bulk particles from the bulk organic matter contained in the LAB-containing sample of interest.