Analysis of lactic acid bacteria communities and their seasonal variations in a spontaneously fermented dairy product (Malian fènè) by applying a cultivation/genotype-based binary model

Seasonal fluctuations of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) communities were analysed in spontaneous fermentation processes of the Malian sour milk fènè through the design of a novel flow-chart protocol for rapid typing of putative LAB. The protocol is based on cultivation on semi-selective complex agar media, followed by a binary scheme for genus- and species-specific genotypic identification. Presumptive LAB (n = 1583) were isolated and typed from 98 samples. Fènè samples displayed 108 cfu mL−1 in all seasons. Seasonal fluctuations indicated a higher prevalence of Streptococcus spp. and Enterococcus spp. in the cold and hot season, respectively. Analysis of enterococci (n = 596) and streptococci (n = 454) revealed the predominance of Streptococcus infantarius subsp. infantarius over Streptococcus thermophilus. The binary culture-based protocol is a rapid tool to follow LAB species diversity and seasonal variations in any complex dairy microbial ecosystem including the cultivation of strains for subsequent characterisation.