title: Functional implications of the microbial community structure of undefined mesophilic starter cultures.
abstract: This review describes the recent advances made in the studies of the microbial community of complex and undefined cheese starter cultures. We report on work related to the composition of the cultures at the level of genetic lineages, on the presence and activity of bacteriophages and on the population dynamics during cheese making and during starter culture propagation. Furthermore, the link between starter composition and starter functionality will be discussed. Finally, recent advances in predictive metabolic modelling of the multi-strain cultures will be discussed in the context of microbe-microbe interactions.
authors.forename: Eddy J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Smid
authors.forename: Oylum
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Erkus
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spus
authors.forename: Judith C M
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wolkers-Rooijackers
authors.forename: Svetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alexeeva
authors.forename: Michiel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kleerebezem
mesh_terms: D002611:Cheese / Q000382:microbiology*; D005285:Fermentation; D005516:Food Microbiology; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D013294:Lactococcus lactis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*