Application of whole-cell biosensors for analysis and improvement of L- and D-lactic acid fermentation by Lactobacillus spp. from the waste of glucose syrup production

BACKGROUND: Lactic acid is one of the most important organic acids, with various applications in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and chemical industries. Optically pure forms of L- and D-lactic acid produced via microbial fermentation play an important role in the synthesis of biodegradable polylactic acid. Alternative substrates, including by-products and residues from the agro-food industry, provide a cost-effective solution for lactic acid production and are a promising avenue for the circular economy. RESULTS: In this study, the transcription factor (TF)-based whole-cell biosensor strategy was developed for the L- and D-lactic acid determination. It was cross validated with commonly used high-performance liquid chromatography and enzymatic methods. The utility of biosensors as an efficient analytical tool was demonstrated by their application for the lactic acid determination and fermentation improvement. We explored the ability of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis, and Lactobacillus amylovorus to biosynthesize optically pure L-lactic acid, D-lactic acid or mixture of both from organic-rich residual fraction (ORRF), a waste of glucose syrup production from wheat starch. The fermentation of this complex industrial waste allowed the production of lactic acid without additional pretreatment obtaining yields from 0.5 to 0.9 Cmol/Cmol glucose. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the utility of whole cell biosensors for the determination of L- and D-forms of lactic acid. The fermentation of L-lactic acid, D-lactic acid and mixture of both by L. paracasei, L. lactis, and L. amylovorus, respectively, was demonstrated using waste of glucose syrup production, the ORRF. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12934-023-02233-9.