Comparison of Commercial and Traditional Kefir Microbiota Using Metagenomic Analysis

Abstract

The current study aimed to determine the bacterial microbiota of five commercial and one traditional kefir beverages consumed in Turkey. In all samples, Firmicutes (93.66%-99.98%) were the most abundant filum. Actinobacteria were detected (6.19%) in one commercial sample, and Proteobacteria were detected (5.91%) in the traditional kefir beverage. The dominant family in all commercial kefir beverages was Streptococcaceae (89.12-99.83%), and the most common genus was Lactococcus in three samples and Streptococcus in the other two samples. However, Lactobacillaceae (36.68%) and Streptococcaceae (36.68%) were dominant in traditional kefir. Lactococcus, Streptococcus and Enterococcus were common in all samples.