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Fine-Scale Temperature-Dependent Shifts in Lactic Acid Bacterial Communities Under Precise Peltier Control
Jin-Hee Seo1, Kyung June Yim1, Ji-Yeon Chun1,2
1Department of Food Bioengineering, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Republic of Korea.
Microorganisms
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Microbial communities show distinct responses to temperature changes. Small temperature shifts significantly alter lactic acid bacteria composition, especially at warmer temperatures, impacting species like Limosilactobacillus reuteri.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacterial Ecology
- Food Science
Background:
- Temperature is crucial for microbial growth and community dynamics.
- Fine-scale temperature variations' impact on microbial communities is not fully understood.
- Lactic acid bacteria are vital in food fermentation and gut health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of precise, small-interval temperature changes on lactic acid bacterial starter cultures.
- To characterize species-level community composition shifts in response to controlled temperature fluctuations.
- To identify temperature-sensitive species within a commercial lactic acid bacterial starter culture.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a Peltier-based thermocycler for precise micro-incubation (±0.1 °C).
- Incubated lactic acid bacterial starter cultures at 3, 4, 5, 36, 37, and 38 °C for 48 hours.
- Assessed species-level community composition using V3-V4 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
Main Results:
- Low temperatures (3-5 °C) maintained stable microbial communities.
- High temperatures (36-38 °C) induced significant species-level compositional differences.
- Specific species like Limosilactobacillus reuteri and Limosilactobacillus fermentum exhibited marked abundance changes between 37 °C and 38 °C.
Conclusions:
- Lactic acid bacterial communities display condition-dependent temperature sensitivity.
- Compositional responses vary significantly between cold and warm temperature ranges.
- Precise temperature control is essential for understanding microbial community dynamics in fermentation and other applications.
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