Ancient Kefir Lactobacillus

3,500-Year Adaptation

Lactobacillus strains recovered from Bronze Age cheese carry unique gene clusters that reflect adaptation to East Asian environments.

Liu, Yichen · Miao, Bo · Bai, Fan · Liu, Yalin · Zheng, Zequan · Wang, Wenjun · Chen, Zehui · Zhu, Shilun · Feng, Xiaotian · Cao, Peng · Ping, Wanjing · Yang, Ruowei · Dai, Qingyan · Liu, Feng · Tian, Chan · Yang, Yimin · Fu, Qiaomei

Cell 2024

Advantages

Strains contain multiple gene clusters with defensive roles against environmental stressors

Revealed an additional spreading route of kefir from Xinjiang to inland East Asia