Molecular evaluation of microbial diversity occurring in different types of Mozzarella cheese.
OBJECTIVE
The microbial community of different types of unripened Pasta Filata cheese was investigated by culture-independent methods with the aim of rapidly achieving knowledge about cheese microbiota and discriminating traditional and industrial cheeses.


RESULTS
The microbial DNA extracted directly from the samples was used as a template in PCR experiments to amplify the 16S-23S rDNA spacer region and the V3 region of the 16S rDNA. Conventional electrophoresis of the amplified spacers allowed known classes of these DNA fragments belonging to genera and species of lactic acid bacteria to be distinguished. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of V3 amplicons was supported by reference cultures of LAB used as markers.


CONCLUSIONS
Both molecular approaches furnished the expected information about microbial diversity and were quite valid for discriminating industrial, semi-artisanal or traditional cheeses, characterized by increasingly complex DNA profiles.


CONCLUSIONS
Both methods could be used for legal purposes when products obtained through prescribed manufacturing regulations are to be analysed.
Coppola
S
S
Dipartimento di Scienza degli Alimenti, Sezione di Microbiologia Agraria, Alimentare ed Ambientale e di Igiene, Università degli Studi di Napoli 'Federico II', Portici, Italy. sacoppol@cds.unina.it
Blaiotta
G
G
Ercolini
D
D
Moschetti
G
G
D002611:Cheese / Q000382:microbiology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics; D017753:Ecosystem; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel / Q000379:methods; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / Q000235:genetics
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S