Metagenomic profiling reveals autochthonous strains with starter culture potential and highlights safety considerations in artisanal ayran

Rozman, Vita (avtor), Mohar Lorbeg, Petra (avtor), Accetto, Tomaž (avtor), Lodygin, Aleksei (avtor), Alieva, Ludmila R. (avtor), Kulikova, Irina (avtor), Kurchenko, Vladimir P. (avtor), Poklar Ulrih, Nataša (avtor), Bogovič Matijašić, Bojana (avtor)

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.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: ayran, metagenomes, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), exopolysaccharides (EPS), bacteriocins
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: BF - Biotehniška fakulteta
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2026
• Št. strani: 12 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 183, article no. 106783
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-185519
• UDK: 637.1
• ISSN pri članku: 1879-0143
• DOI: 10.1016/j.idairyj.2026.106783
• COBISS.SI-ID: 287202307
• Datum objave v RUL: 07.08.2026

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: International dairy journal
• Skrajšan naslov: Int. dairy j.
• Založnik: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1879-0143
• COBISS.SI-ID: 47475459

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.