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Austrian Raw-Milk Hard-Cheese Ripening Involves Successional Dynamics of Non-Inoculated Bacteria and Fungi
Foods
  • Narciso M. Quijada, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
  • Stephan Schmitz-Esser, Iowa State University
  • Benjamin Zwirzitz, FFoQSI GmbH
  • Christian Guse, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
  • Cameron R. Strachan, FFoQSI GmbH
  • Martin Wagner, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
  • Stefanie U. Wetzels, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
  • Evelyne Selberherr, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
  • Monika Dzieciol, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
12-11-2020
DOI
10.3390/foods9121851
Abstract

Cheese ripening involves successional changes of the rind microbial composition that harbors a key role on the quality and safety of the final products. In this study, we analyzed the evolution of the rind microbiota (bacteria and fungi) throughout the ripening of Austrian Vorarlberger Bergkäse (VB), an artisanal surface-ripened cheese, by using quantitative and qualitative approaches. The real-time quantitative PCR results revealed that bacteria were more abundant than fungi in VB rinds throughout ripening, although both kingdoms were abundant along the process. The qualitative investigation was performed by high-throughput gene-targeted (amplicon) sequencing. The results showed dynamic changes of the rind microbiota throughout ripening. In the fresh products, VB rinds were dominated by Staphylococcus equorum and Candida. At early ripening times (14–30 days) Psychrobacter and Debaryomyces flourished, although their high abundance was limited to these time points. At the latest ripening times (90–160 days), VB rinds were dominated by S. equorum, Brevibacterium, Corynebacterium, and Scopulariopsis. Strong correlations were shown for specific bacteria and fungi linked to specific ripening periods. This study deepens our understanding of VB ripening and highlights different bacteria and fungi associated to specific ripening periods which may influence the organoleptic properties of the final products.

Comments

This article is published as Quijada, Narciso M., Stephan Schmitz-Esser, Benjamin Zwirzitz, Christian Guse, Cameron R. Strachan, Martin Wagner, Stefanie U. Wetzels, Evelyne Selberherr, and Monika Dzieciol. "Austrian Raw-Milk Hard-Cheese Ripening Involves Successional Dynamics of Non-Inoculated Bacteria and Fungi." Foods 9, no. 12 (2020): 1851. doi: 10.3390/foods9121851.

Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Copyright Owner
The Authors
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Narciso M. Quijada, Stephan Schmitz-Esser, Benjamin Zwirzitz, Christian Guse, et al.. "Austrian Raw-Milk Hard-Cheese Ripening Involves Successional Dynamics of Non-Inoculated Bacteria and Fungi" Foods Vol. 9 Iss. 12 (2020) p. 1851
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/stephan-schmitz-esser/53/