Microbial dynamics in the ripening process of Vorarlberger Alpkäse: farm-specific variations at two Austrian alpine farms

Title (eng)
Microbial dynamics in the ripening process of Vorarlberger Alpkäse: farm-specific variations at two Austrian alpine farms
Author
Johannes Josef Kuenz
Author
Franz-Ferdinand Roch
Author
Monika Dzieciol
Author
Dmijtri Sofka
Author
Friederike Hilbert
Author
Evelyne Selberherr
Abstract (eng)
Introduction: Vorarlberger Alpkäse (VA) is a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) Austrian heritage cheese produced from raw milk during the summer grazing period in the Alps. In addition to conducting clinical examinations of cows whose raw milk is used for VA cheese production, this study investigates the microbiota of raw milk and cheese from two alpine farms. Methods: Raw milk, curd, and cheese core samples were collected and analysed using qPCR and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to determine bacterial loads and the microbial community composition. Results: The microbial community in raw milk showed significant variation in alpha diversity and taxonomy during the alpine sojourn, with Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Paenibacillus and Lactobacillus being dominant. The cheese curd microbiota was initially diverse, with Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, the Shigella complex, Lactobacillus and Hafnia-Obesumbacterium being most abundant. During ripening, Lactobacillus became the predominant genus, while the overall diversity decreased. Discussion: Differences in microbial communities were observed between the two farms, likely due to variations in production conditions and domestic microbiota. These findings highlight the impact of alpine farming practices on the raw milk and cheese microbiota, influencing the unique characteristics of VA.
Keywords (eng)
Cheese RipeningMicrobial DynamicsAlpine PastureRaw MilkMicrobial CommunityTraditional CheeseDairyMilk Microbiota
Type (eng)
journal article
Language
[eng]
Persistent identifier
https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:4897
DOI
10.3389/fmicb.2025.1617995
Is in series
Title (eng)
Frontiers In Microbiology
Volume
16
ISSN
1664-302X
Issued
2025
Number of pages
16
Publication
Frontiers Media SA
Version type (eng)
version of record (published version)
Date issued
2025
Access rights (eng)
open access
License
CC BY 4.0 International
Rights statement (eng)
© 2025 Künz, Roch, Dzieciol, Sofka, Hilbert and Selberherr