Metatranscriptomic Analyses Unravel Dynamic Changes in the Microbial and Metabolic Transcriptional Profiles in Artisanal Austrian Hard-Cheeses During Ripening.

Vorarlberger Bergkäse (VB) is an artisanal Austrian washed-rind hard cheese produced from alpine cows' raw milk without the addition of ripening cultures. Ripening time is a key factor in VB, as it strongly influences the microbial communities present in the cheeses and the organoleptic properties of the product. In this study, the microbial and metabolic transcriptional profiles in VB rinds at different ripening times were investigated. VB products before (30 days of ripening) and after (90 days of ripening) selling were selected, RNA was extracted and subjected to shotgun metatranscriptomic sequencing. The analysis revealed some of the previously described abundant bacterial taxa of Brevibacterium, Corynebacterium, Halomonas, Psychrobacter, and Staphylococcus to be highly active in VB rinds. Additionally, the investigation of most important metabolic pathways in cheese ripening clearly showed differences in the gene transcription profiles and the active microbiota between the two ripening points investigated. At 30 days of ripening, metabolic events related with the degradation of residual lactose, lactate, citrate, proteolysis, and lipolysis were significantly more transcribed and mainly associated with Staphylococcus. On the other hand, genes involved in the degradation of smaller compounds derived from previous metabolism (i.e., metabolism of free amino acids and fatty acids) were significantly more expressed in VB rinds with 90 of ripening, and mainly associated with Brevibacterium and Corynebacterium. These latter metabolic activities are responsible of the generation of compounds, such as methanethiol and 2,3-butanediol, that are very important for the flavor and aroma characteristics of cheeses. This study shows the dynamic changes in the gene transcriptional profiles associated with energy substrates metabolism and the generation of organoleptic compounds during VB ripening and uncovers bacterial taxa as key drivers of the ripening process. These taxa might be the target for future studies toward an accelerated cheese ripening and the enhancement of its organoleptic properties.

The Core Human Microbiome: Does It Exist and How Can We Find It? A Critical Review of the Concept.

The core microbiome, which refers to a set of consistent microbial features across populations, is of major interest in microbiome research and has been addressed by numerous studies. Understanding the core microbiome can help identify elements that lead to dysbiosis, and lead to treatments for microbiome-related health states. However, defining the core microbiome is a complex task at several levels. In this review, we consider the current state of core human microbiome research. We consider the knowledge that has been gained, the factors limiting our ability to achieve a reliable description of the core human microbiome, and the fields most likely to improve that ability. DNA sequencing technologies and the methods for analyzing metagenomics and amplicon data will most likely facilitate higher accuracy and resolution in describing the microbiome. However, more effort should be invested in characterizing the microbiome's interactions with its human host, including the immune system and nutrition. Other components of this holobiontic system should also be emphasized, such as fungi, protists, lower eukaryotes, viruses, and phages. Most importantly, a collaborative effort of experts in microbiology, nutrition, immunology, medicine, systems biology, bioinformatics, and machine learning is probably required to identify the traits of the core human microbiome.

Microbiome Research as an Effective Driver of Success Stories in Agrifood Systems - A Selection of Case Studies.

Increasing knowledge of the microbiome has led to significant advancements in the agrifood system. Case studies based on microbiome applications have been reported worldwide and, in this review, we have selected 14 success stories that showcase the importance of microbiome research in advancing the agrifood system. The selected case studies describe products, methodologies, applications, tools, and processes that created an economic and societal impact. Additionally, they cover a broad range of fields within the agrifood chain: the management of diseases and putative pathogens; the use of microorganism as soil fertilizers and plant strengtheners; the investigation of the microbial dynamics occurring during food fermentation; the presence of microorganisms and/or genes associated with hazards for animal and human health (e.g., mycotoxins, spoilage agents, or pathogens) in feeds, foods, and their processing environments; applications to improve HACCP systems; and the identification of novel probiotics and prebiotics to improve the animal gut microbiome or to prevent chronic non-communicable diseases in humans (e.g., obesity complications). The microbiomes of soil, plants, and animals are pivotal for ensuring human and environmental health and this review highlights the impact that microbiome applications have with this regard.