title: Bacteria associated with human saliva are major microbial components of Ecuadorian indigenous beers (chicha).
abstract: Indigenous beers (chicha) are part of the indigenous culture in Ecuador. The fermentation process of these beers probably relies on microorganisms from fermented substrates, environment and human microbiota. We analyzed the microbiota of artisanal beers (including a type of beer produced after chewing boiled cassava) using bacterial culture and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene-based tag-encoded FLX amplicon pyrosequencing (bTEFAP). Surprisingly, we found that Streptococcus salivarius and Streptococcus mutans (part of the human oral microbiota) were among the most abundant bacteria in chewed cassava and in non-chewed cassava beers. We also demonstrated that S. salivarius and S. mutans (isolated from these beers) could proliferate in cassava mush. Lactobacillus sp. was predominantly present in most types of Ecuadorian chicha.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Microbiologia, Colegio de Ciencias Biologicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito , Quito, Pichincha , Ecuador.
authors.forename: Ana L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Freire
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Microbiologia, Colegio de Ciencias Biologicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito , Quito, Pichincha , Ecuador.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zapata
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Microbiologia, Colegio de Ciencias Biologicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito , Quito, Pichincha , Ecuador.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mosquera
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Microbiologia, Colegio de Ciencias Biologicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito , Quito, Pichincha , Ecuador.
authors.forename: Maria Lorena
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mejia
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Microbiologia, Colegio de Ciencias Biologicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito , Quito, Pichincha , Ecuador.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trueba
keywords: Artisanal fermented beverages; Cassava; Chewed indigenous beer; Chicha; Ecuador; Fermentation; Fermented cassava; Indigenous beer; Lactic acid bacteria; Microbiota; Saliva; Streptococcus mutans; Streptococcus salivarius