Microbial community dynamics in a traditional Swiss mountain cheese over 142 years of cheesemaking.

Microbial communities in Swiss Raclette cheese have significantly changed over 142 years, reflecting shifts in cheesemaking practices and antibiotic use.

• Why it matters: Understanding how human-driven changes impact cheese microbiomes is crucial for preserving traditional flavors and ensuring food safety amid modernization.
• What they did: Using shotgun metagenomics and 16S rRNA sequencing, researchers analyzed preserved cheese wheels from 1875 to 2017, revealing shifts in microbial composition and antibiotic resistance genes.
• The result: Findings show distinct bacterial communities in older cheeses and the presence of antibiotic resistance and bacteriophages similar to modern cheese, illustrating long-term human influence on cheese microbiomes.