Evolution in a plant matrix: adaptive reshaping of kefir grains microbiota and function during long-term soymilk culture

To explore the adaptability of kefir grains in long-term subculture in soymilk, this study tracked the succession and functional changes of its microbial community over 4 months. High-throughput sequencing results showed that the microbial community structure was drastically reshaped, mainly manifes...

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Main Authors: Zhina Chen, Qingqing Li, Fanqi Li, Linlin Yin, La Wang, Tao Ye, Yi Wang, Shengju Fu, Weiming Wang, Xiaochen Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1614639/full
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author Zhina Chen
Qingqing Li
Fanqi Li
Linlin Yin
La Wang
Tao Ye
Yi Wang
Shengju Fu
Weiming Wang
Xiaochen Huang
author_facet Zhina Chen
Qingqing Li
Fanqi Li
Linlin Yin
La Wang
Tao Ye
Yi Wang
Shengju Fu
Weiming Wang
Xiaochen Huang
author_sort Zhina Chen
collection DOAJ
description To explore the adaptability of kefir grains in long-term subculture in soymilk, this study tracked the succession and functional changes of its microbial community over 4 months. High-throughput sequencing results showed that the microbial community structure was drastically reshaped, mainly manifested in the relative abundance of Lacticaseibacillus kefiranofaciens decreasing from 95.00 to 15.70%, while Lacticaseibacillus paracasei increased from 0.32 to 76.94%, becoming the dominant bacteria. Metagenomic analysis indicated that L. paracasei possesses key enzymes for metabolizing raffinose, stachyose and sucrose, which is the basis for its efficient utilization of soymilk oligosaccharides and its competitive advantage. The decrease in the abundance of L. kefiranofaciens was associated with a decrease in the synthesis of extracellular polysaccharides (EPS), which in turn caused a reduction in the diameter of kefir grains, an increase in surface viscosity and a partial collapse of the gel matrix structure. The pH and free amino acid content of fermented soymilk did not fluctuate much during the passage process, but the sensory acceptance, antioxidant capacity and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity all showed a downward trend. This work reveals the adaptive evolution mechanism of kefir grains in a plant matrix environment and provides a theoretical basis for the optimization of soymilk fermentation based on limited strains.
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spelling doaj-art-364d11e98158443d8b542165e643fb672025-08-20T03:07:21ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2025-06-011610.3389/fmicb.2025.16146391614639Evolution in a plant matrix: adaptive reshaping of kefir grains microbiota and function during long-term soymilk cultureZhina Chen0Qingqing Li1Fanqi Li2Linlin Yin3La Wang4Tao Ye5Yi Wang6Shengju Fu7Weiming Wang8Xiaochen Huang9School of Biological Engineering, Huainan Normal University, Huainan, ChinaSchool of Biological Engineering, Huainan Normal University, Huainan, ChinaSchool of Biological Engineering, Huainan Normal University, Huainan, ChinaSchool of Biological Engineering, Huainan Normal University, Huainan, ChinaSchool of Biological Engineering, Huainan Normal University, Huainan, ChinaSchool of Biological Engineering, Huainan Normal University, Huainan, ChinaSchool of Biological Engineering, Huainan Normal University, Huainan, ChinaSchool of Biological Engineering, Huainan Normal University, Huainan, ChinaSchool of Biological Engineering, Huainan Normal University, Huainan, ChinaSchool of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, ChinaTo explore the adaptability of kefir grains in long-term subculture in soymilk, this study tracked the succession and functional changes of its microbial community over 4 months. High-throughput sequencing results showed that the microbial community structure was drastically reshaped, mainly manifested in the relative abundance of Lacticaseibacillus kefiranofaciens decreasing from 95.00 to 15.70%, while Lacticaseibacillus paracasei increased from 0.32 to 76.94%, becoming the dominant bacteria. Metagenomic analysis indicated that L. paracasei possesses key enzymes for metabolizing raffinose, stachyose and sucrose, which is the basis for its efficient utilization of soymilk oligosaccharides and its competitive advantage. The decrease in the abundance of L. kefiranofaciens was associated with a decrease in the synthesis of extracellular polysaccharides (EPS), which in turn caused a reduction in the diameter of kefir grains, an increase in surface viscosity and a partial collapse of the gel matrix structure. The pH and free amino acid content of fermented soymilk did not fluctuate much during the passage process, but the sensory acceptance, antioxidant capacity and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity all showed a downward trend. This work reveals the adaptive evolution mechanism of kefir grains in a plant matrix environment and provides a theoretical basis for the optimization of soymilk fermentation based on limited strains.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1614639/fullkefir grainsmicrobial successionsoymilksubcultureLacticaseibacillus paracasei
spellingShingle Zhina Chen
Qingqing Li
Fanqi Li
Linlin Yin
La Wang
Tao Ye
Yi Wang
Shengju Fu
Weiming Wang
Xiaochen Huang
Evolution in a plant matrix: adaptive reshaping of kefir grains microbiota and function during long-term soymilk culture
Frontiers in Microbiology
kefir grains
microbial succession
soymilk
subculture
Lacticaseibacillus paracasei
title Evolution in a plant matrix: adaptive reshaping of kefir grains microbiota and function during long-term soymilk culture
title_full Evolution in a plant matrix: adaptive reshaping of kefir grains microbiota and function during long-term soymilk culture
title_fullStr Evolution in a plant matrix: adaptive reshaping of kefir grains microbiota and function during long-term soymilk culture
title_full_unstemmed Evolution in a plant matrix: adaptive reshaping of kefir grains microbiota and function during long-term soymilk culture
title_short Evolution in a plant matrix: adaptive reshaping of kefir grains microbiota and function during long-term soymilk culture
title_sort evolution in a plant matrix adaptive reshaping of kefir grains microbiota and function during long term soymilk culture
topic kefir grains
microbial succession
soymilk
subculture
Lacticaseibacillus paracasei
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1614639/full
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