Cited by 919Milk Quality and Mastitis in Dairy CowsProbiotics and Fermented FoodsAnimal Diversity and Health Studies

The Complex Microbiota of Raw Milk

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Quigley, Lisa, O'Sullivan, Orla, Stanton, Catherine, Beresford, Tom P., Ross, R. Paul, Fitzgerald, Gerald F., Cotter, Paul D.·2013·FEMS Microbiology Reviews

Abstract

Here, we review what is known about the microorganisms present in raw milk, including milk from cows, sheep, goats and humans. Milk, due to its high nutritional content, can support a rich microbiota. These microorganisms enter milk from a variety of sources and, once in milk, can play a number of roles, such as facilitating dairy fermentations (e.g. Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Propionibacterium and fungal populations), causing spoilage (e.g. Pseudomonas, Clostridium, Bacillus and other spore-forming or thermoduric microorganisms), promoting health (e.g. lactobacilli and bifidobacteria) or causing disease (e.g. Listeria, Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Campylobacter and mycotoxin-producing fungi). There is also concern that the presence of antibiotic residues in milk leads to the development of resistance, particularly among pathogenic bacteria. Here, we comprehensively review these topics, while comparing the approaches, both culture-dependent and culture-independent, which can be taken to investigate the microbial composition of milk.

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Crossref · 10.1111/1574-6976.12030

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  • Environmental factors are crucial in shaping the composition of milk microbiota.

    “Environmental factors are crucial in shaping the composition of milk microbiota [38,55,60,61,62,63].”
  • The indigenous microbiota of raw milk is diverse and heterogeneous and has a significant impact on the overall microbiota of cheese.

    “The indigenous microbiota of raw milk is usually quite diverse and heterogeneous and has a significant impact on the overall microbiota of cheese [24].”
  • Bacteriophages targeting key starter or adjunct cultures are associated with changes in fermentation resulting in slow acidification and undesirable organoleptic characteristics of cheese.

    “Phages targeting key starter or adjunct cultures have been associated with changes in fermentation resulting in slow acidification and undesirable organoleptic characteristics of the cheese [24].”

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Tsakalidou E & Odos I (2012) Microbiota of Goat's Milk and Goat's Milk Cheese. Proceedings of First Asia Dairy Goat Conference, pp. 40-41. University Putra Malaysia and the Food and Agricultural Organisation on the United Nations (FAO), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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Authors
Quigley, L., O'Sullivan, O., Stanton, C., Beresford, T. P., Ross, R. P., Fitzgerald, G. F., & Cotter, P. D.
Affiliations
  • Teagasc - The Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority (IE)
  • University College Cork (IE)
Corresponding author
Cotter, Paul D.
Venue
FEMS Microbiology Reviews
Published
2013-09
Volume
37
Issue
5
Pages
664-698
ISSN
  • 0168-6445 (ISSN-L)
  • 1574-6976
OpenAlex
W2104638531
Cited by
919
References
323
Citations by year
2026: 58 · 2025: 95 · 2024: 115 · 2023: 88 · 2022: 100 · 2021: 100 · 2020: 82 · 2019: 62 · 2018: 65 · 2017: 57 · 2016: 48 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 1
FWCI
5.57
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • FEMS Microbiology Reviews (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Teagasc
  • FP7 Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Biotechnology
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Milk Quality and Mastitis in Dairy Cows
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Animal Diversity and Health Studies
Keywords
raw milk microbiota, milk spoilage, dairy fermentation, Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Listeria, Salmonella, antibiotic resistance, antibiotic residues, mycotoxigenic fungi, Pseudomonas, Clostridium, thermoduric bacteria, cow's milk, sheep milk, goat milk, breast milk
MeSH terms
Animals, Humans, Milk, Milk, Human, Food Safety, Food Storage, Microbiota

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