| Yazarlar (4) |
Özge Kahraman Ilıkkan
Başkent Üniversitesi, Turkey |
|
Zeynep Görkem Cerit
Hacettepe Üniversitesi, Turkey |
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Cengiz BALOĞLU
Kastamonu Üniversitesi, Türkiye |
|
Remziye Yılmaz
Hacettepe Üniversitesi, Turkey |
| Özet |
| This study presents a comprehensive microbiological evaluation of white cheese production in a small-scale dairy facility in northern Türkiye, integrating culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. Ten samples, including raw milk, milk with starter culture added, curd, clot, final cheese product, and environmental samples such as milk truck, cheese vessel, stirrer, cutting wire, and cheesecloth, were analyzed. Pathogenic bacteria were identified using MALDI-TOF MS, while shotgun metagenomics enabled a detailed investigation of microbial communities, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and functional properties. The analysis using MALDI-TOF MS revealed ten pathogenic species, among which Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were the most dominant. Shotgun metagenomics corroborated the prevalence of S. aureus in dairy samples and Salmonella spp. on equipment surfaces, particularly the cheese vessel, stirrer, and cutting wire. The highest E. coli contamination was detected on cheesecloth, underscoring a critical point of concern. Across 15 antibiotic classes, 974 ARGs were identified, with equipment samples harboring significantly higher ARG loads than dairy products. Resistance mechanisms included β-lactamase enzymes, RND efflux pumps, and ribosomal protection proteins. Equipment samples showed an enrichment of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), notably glycoside hydrolases and glycosyl transferases, suggesting microbial biofilm development and increased spoilage potential. Functional gene profiling revealed distinct metabolic signatures between dairy and equipment samples, with enriched pathways related to virulence and antimicrobial resistance in environmental samples. These findings underscore the limitations of conventional thermal treatment and the necessity of stringent sanitation practices, particularly for reusable equipment such as cheesecloth. The combined use of MALDI-TOF MS and shotgun metagenomics offers an effective strategy for microbial risk assessment in traditional cheese production systems. |
| Anahtar Kelimeler |
| Dairy equipment hygiene | Food-borne pathogens | MALDI-TOF MS | Microbial contamination | Resistome profiling | Shotgun metagenomics | White cheese |
| Makale Türü | Özgün Makale |
| Makale Alt Türü | SSCI, AHCI, SCI, SCI-Exp dergilerinde yayınlanan tam makale |
| Dergi Adı | Food Research International |
| Dergi ISSN | 0963-9969 Wos Dergi Scopus Dergi |
| Dergi Grubu | Q1 |
| Makale Dili | İngilizce |
| Basım Tarihi | 12-2025 |
| Cilt No | 221 |
| Sayı | 1 |
| Doi Numarası | 10.1016/j.foodres.2025.117432 |
