Naslov
Microbiota of kefir grains

Autori
Pogačić, Tomislav ; Šinko, Sanja ; Zamberlin, Šimun ; Samaržija, Dubravka

Izvornik
Mljekarstvo (0026-704X) 63 (2013); 3-14

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, pregledni rad, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
kefir; kefir grains; molecular methods; microbiota

Sažetak
Kefir grains represent the unique microbial community consisting of bacteria, yeasts, and sometimes filamentous moulds creating complex symbiotic community. The complexity of their physical and microbial structures is the reason that kefir grains are still not unequivocally elucidated. Microbiota of kefir grains has been studied using many microbiological and molecular approaches. The development of metagenomics, based on the identification without cultivation, is opening new possibilities for identification of previously non-isolated and non-identified microbial species from kefir grains. According to recent studies, there are over 50 microbial species associated with kefir grains. The aim of this review is to summarize the microbiota structure of kefir grains. Moreover, because of technological and microbiological significance of kefir grains, the paper provides an insight into microbiological and molecular methods applied to study microbial biodiversity of kefir grains.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Poljoprivreda (agronomija), Prehrambena tehnologija

POVEZANOST RADA