Microbial succession and interaction in vacuum-packed beef: a longitudinal study of bacterial and fungal dynamics
Abstract The microbial dynamics of vacuum-packed (VP) beef are shaped by interactions between bacterial and fungal communities, influencing spoilage and meat quality during storage. While bacterial succession is well studied, fungal roles remain underexplored. We examined microbial communities in VP...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
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| Series: | npj Science of Food |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-025-00479-8 |
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| author | Franz-Ferdinand Roch Monika Dzieciol Cameron R. Strachan Muhammad Sharjeel Chaughtai Narciso M. Quijada Tea Movsesijan Evelyne Selberherr |
| author_facet | Franz-Ferdinand Roch Monika Dzieciol Cameron R. Strachan Muhammad Sharjeel Chaughtai Narciso M. Quijada Tea Movsesijan Evelyne Selberherr |
| author_sort | Franz-Ferdinand Roch |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The microbial dynamics of vacuum-packed (VP) beef are shaped by interactions between bacterial and fungal communities, influencing spoilage and meat quality during storage. While bacterial succession is well studied, fungal roles remain underexplored. We examined microbial communities in VP beef over 85 days using spike-in, qPCR, 16S/18S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, culture-based methods, whole genome sequencing, and co-culture experiments. Initially dominated by Pseudomonas and Brochothrix, the bacterial community shifted toward lactic acid bacteria (LAB) by day 15. Fungal communities remained diverse, with Kurtzmaniella, Barnettozyma, Debaryomyces, and Yarrowia as key genera. Co-culture experiments revealed a triangular interaction: yeasts enhanced LAB, LAB inhibited Enterobacterales, and Enterobacterales suppressed yeasts. Genomic analyses suggest yeast metabolites support LAB, LAB inhibit via acids and bacteriocins, and Enterobacterales produce fungal cell wall-degrading enzymes. These findings highlight fungi’s overlooked role and the importance of inter-kingdom interactions in meat microbiomes, offering a foundation for strategies to improve meat safety and shelf life. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6fdc04c787f84d28bda6ff699d7b563a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2396-8370 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Science of Food |
| spelling | doaj-art-6fdc04c787f84d28bda6ff699d7b563a2025-08-20T02:37:36ZengNature Portfolionpj Science of Food2396-83702025-06-019111610.1038/s41538-025-00479-8Microbial succession and interaction in vacuum-packed beef: a longitudinal study of bacterial and fungal dynamicsFranz-Ferdinand Roch0Monika Dzieciol1Cameron R. Strachan2Muhammad Sharjeel Chaughtai3Narciso M. Quijada4Tea Movsesijan5Evelyne Selberherr6Clinical Department for Farm Animals and Food System Science, Center for Food Science and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1Clinical Department for Farm Animals and Food System Science, Center for Food Science and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1Austrian Competence Centre for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation, FFoQSI GmbHClinical Department for Farm Animals and Food System Science, Center for Food Science and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1Institute of Functional Biology and Genomics (IBFG), CSIC - University of SalamancaAustrian Competence Centre for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation, FFoQSI GmbHClinical Department for Farm Animals and Food System Science, Center for Food Science and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1Abstract The microbial dynamics of vacuum-packed (VP) beef are shaped by interactions between bacterial and fungal communities, influencing spoilage and meat quality during storage. While bacterial succession is well studied, fungal roles remain underexplored. We examined microbial communities in VP beef over 85 days using spike-in, qPCR, 16S/18S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, culture-based methods, whole genome sequencing, and co-culture experiments. Initially dominated by Pseudomonas and Brochothrix, the bacterial community shifted toward lactic acid bacteria (LAB) by day 15. Fungal communities remained diverse, with Kurtzmaniella, Barnettozyma, Debaryomyces, and Yarrowia as key genera. Co-culture experiments revealed a triangular interaction: yeasts enhanced LAB, LAB inhibited Enterobacterales, and Enterobacterales suppressed yeasts. Genomic analyses suggest yeast metabolites support LAB, LAB inhibit via acids and bacteriocins, and Enterobacterales produce fungal cell wall-degrading enzymes. These findings highlight fungi’s overlooked role and the importance of inter-kingdom interactions in meat microbiomes, offering a foundation for strategies to improve meat safety and shelf life.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-025-00479-8 |
| spellingShingle | Franz-Ferdinand Roch Monika Dzieciol Cameron R. Strachan Muhammad Sharjeel Chaughtai Narciso M. Quijada Tea Movsesijan Evelyne Selberherr Microbial succession and interaction in vacuum-packed beef: a longitudinal study of bacterial and fungal dynamics npj Science of Food |
| title | Microbial succession and interaction in vacuum-packed beef: a longitudinal study of bacterial and fungal dynamics |
| title_full | Microbial succession and interaction in vacuum-packed beef: a longitudinal study of bacterial and fungal dynamics |
| title_fullStr | Microbial succession and interaction in vacuum-packed beef: a longitudinal study of bacterial and fungal dynamics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microbial succession and interaction in vacuum-packed beef: a longitudinal study of bacterial and fungal dynamics |
| title_short | Microbial succession and interaction in vacuum-packed beef: a longitudinal study of bacterial and fungal dynamics |
| title_sort | microbial succession and interaction in vacuum packed beef a longitudinal study of bacterial and fungal dynamics |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-025-00479-8 |
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