This study provides evidence for the remarkable yeast diversity
associated with goats’ and ewes’ traditional cheeses produced in a
small dairy in Spain. The succession of yeast species along the
cheese ripening process evidences the complex physico-chemical
changes taking place in the cheese eventually restricting yeast
growth with the exception of D. hansenii. Moreover, the enzymatic
characterization revealed the possible contribution of these yeasts
to liberation of amino acids and fatty acids from milk. The minisatellite
M13 profiles obtained from most D. hansenii strains showed
little divergence, indicating a close genetic relationship associated
with the same origin of isolation. In addition, and based on the
distribution by weeks, the diversity of D. hansenii isolated from
goats’ cheeses increased along the ripening weeks.
Acknowledgments
Authors thank grants Consolider Ingenio Fun-C-Food, CSD2007-
00063 and INIA RM2007-00010 for financial support. BP thanks
CSIC for a JAE Predoc contract. Authors are grateful to Cheese
Company “Los Corrales” for kindly supplying the cheese samples