20.500.12556/RUL-185519 Metagenomic profiling reveals autochthonous strains with starter culture potential and highlights safety considerations in artisanal ayran Industrial production of ayran could benefit from custom autochthonous starter cultures, as the organoleptic properties are strongly influenced by microbiota, producing enzymes, secondary metabolites, and exopolysaccharides (EPS). Here, we used shotgun metagenomic sequencing to characterise microbiome, functional potential, and safety profile of 11 artisanal ayran samples and identify candidates for starter culture development. The microbiome was dominated by Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus (L.) delbrueckii, exhibiting substantial strain-level diversity that shaped functional profile of ayran. Diverse eps gene clusters, carbohydrate biosynthesis pathways, and procoagulant proteases indicated considerable technological potential among indigenous strains, providing a source of potential starter culture candidates. However, safety assessment highlighted the need for careful evaluation of starter candidates, as some strains carried acquired antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) linked to mobile genetic elements (MGEs) or virulence factors. These findings indicate that new starter cultures are needed to minimise potential health and safety concerns associated with artisanal ayran products. ayran metagenomes antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) exopolysaccharides (EPS) bacteriocins true false true Angleški jezik Angleški jezik Članek v reviji 2026-08-07 08:35:03 2026-08-07 08:35:09 2026-08-08 04:08:07 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2026 0 0 12 str. article no. 106783 Vol. 183 Dec. 2026 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 637.1 1879-0143 10.1016/j.idairyj.2026.106783 287202307 RAZ_Rozman_Vita_2026.pdf RAZ_Rozman_Vita_2026.pdf 1 42BDF83EB0408430B9438081A07915BB f634c849942466d0e211bed83da26cfa5ea5f5264047e10e5cb351b5a343273f 3afdeded-922a-11f1-9b0d-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=244082 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0958694626002372?via%3Dihub 1 cb24f9d1-9229-11f1-9b0d-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=244081 Biotehniška fakulteta 0 0 0