Molecular Appreciation of the Native Bacterial Flora of Raw Milk in the North-Western Region of Algeria

Abstract

Background: The appreciation of microbial milk communities, in order to promote useful flora and inhibit pathogenic one, has become one of the key factors in controlling the quality of cheeses.Methods: In this context, an approach to assess the bacterial flora of raw cow’s milk, was tested in 05 wilayas in north-western Algeria, on the one hand by a preliminary count of total flora and a phenotypic characterization based on morphological criteria and on the other hand by a genotypic identification of selected isolates, by the PCR method and sequencing of the gene encoding for the 16S ARNr.Result: The results of molecular analysis obtained from 72 isolates allowed the identification of 12 bacterial species with a dominance of the lactic microflora, 37% Lactococcus and 29% Enterococcus. This milk-native lactic microflora has become the main vector that preserves the distinctiveness of dairy products, including local cheese.