Microbial community structure and diversity in different types of non-bovine milk

Abstract

• Microbial community structure of breast milk distinct from that of animal milk. • Environmental factors of source area regulate microbial community of non-bovine milk. • Different non-bovine milks have diverse but unique dominant lactic acid bacteria . • Non-bovine milk of animal origin has potential high risk for food safety. • Species annotation ensures accurate estimation of pathogenic or lactic acid bacteria. Non-bovine milk is an underappreciated type of milk with geographical characteristics of production, consumption and nutrition. Although the structure similarity of microbial community from the different types of non-bovine milk are very different, the composition of microbial community, especially those belonging to pathogenic bacteria or lactic acid bacteria in non-bovine milk, may be more diverse than that of cow milk. Microbial community analysis based on high-throughput sequencing coupled with microbial annotation on species level, environmental factors of milk producing areas, and milk nutritional composition is considered to be very necessary strategy in future research of non-bovine milk. This review provides a reference for evaluating food safety and nutrition of non-bovine milk and dairy products.