Bringing Metagenetics to the Cheese Industry

Metagenetics or DNA Metabarcoding: What Is It?

DNA metabarcoding, also known as high-throughput amplicon sequencing, is a powerful technique for accurately characterizing microbial community compositions. It involves sequencing a specific gene that is shared among multiple species within a microbial community.

This process relies on several essential steps: extracting DNA, performing targeted PCR amplification using specific primers, labelling the PCR products with unique barcodes, and sequencing all samples simultaneously.

The generated data are then sorted and assigned to taxa using reference databases, offering a detailed and precise view of microbial ecosystems.

A Practical Guide for the Cheese Industry

This guide offers practical recommendations for successfully conducting a DNA metabarcoding experiment, covering all essential steps—from sample preparation to bioinformatics and statistical data analysis.

Designed to make omics approaches more accessible to the cheese industry, this document is both a practical and user-friendly resource. It assists professionals in implementing DNA metabarcoding experiments, enabling them to fully leverage the potential of these advanced technologies. By incorporating these tools, industry stakeholders will be better positioned to enhance the value of their products and gain deeper insights into the microbial ecosystems associated with them.

A Collaborative Initiative for the Dairy Sector

Developed within the framework of the ADAMOS project (CASDAR 2019-2023), this guide was the result of close collaboration between academic and technical partners, coordinated by Éric Dugat-Bony (INRAE). Its creation involved contributions from our platform, particularly our molecular biology specialist Christine Achilleos, and a wide range of partner organizations.

To access the guide:

https://www.rmtfromagesdeterroirs.com/projets-de-r-et-d/adamos/

The ADAMOS project received financial support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forestry (CASDAR) as well as from the departmental councils of Savoie and Haute-Savoie as part of the Raw Milk Sector Plan.

Contact :

• Éric Dugat-Bony (INRAE) : eric.dugat-bony@inrae.fr
• Blandine Polturat (CERAQ) : blandine.polturat@ceraq.fr
• Christine Achilleos (INRAE) : christine.achilleos@inrae.fr