Exploring the Microbiome and Functional Metabolism of Fermented Camel Milk (Shubat) Using Metagenomics

Abstract

Shubat is a traditional fermented camel milk drink that originated in Central Asia, with especially deep cultural roots in Kazakhstan. However, systematic studies on the microbial ecology and functional genes of Shubat remain scarce. As a distinctive fer-mented food, its microbial diversity and functional properties have not been fully ex-plored. This study investigates the microbial diversity and functional potential of Shubat by using advanced metagenomic techniques. Its microbial community is mainly composed of bacteria (96.6%), with Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, and Streptococcus being the dominant genera. Functional annotations through EggNOG, KEGG, and CAZy databases highlighted the metabolic versatility of Shubat's microbiota. Key pathways included amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism, vitamin biosynthesis, and central carbon metabolism, emphasizing their roles in fermentation and nutritional enhancement. The identification of various enzymes related to chemical synthesis further emphasizes the contribution of the microbiota to Shubat's unique flavor and texture. This study not only provides an important basis for the scientific understanding of Shubat but also expands the application possibilities of fermented food in the field of health and nutrition and confers modern value and significance to traditional food. This integration of science and tradition has not only facilitated the development of food microbiology but also paved new pathways for the global dissemination of traditional foods and the development of functional foods.

Keywords: Shubat; fermented camel milk; functional annotation; functional metabolism; metagenomics; microbial diversity.

Figure 1

Relative abundance of the microbial community of Shubat samples at the genus (A) and species level (B) (abundance > 1%). Bar diagram of fungal (C) and viral (D) community structure in Shubat samples (abundance > 5%).

Figure 2

Clusters of orthologous groups (COG) functional classification (the x-axis represents the 24 different groups; the y-axis refers to the frequency of genes).

Figure 3

Radar map of the enriched KEGG pathways (A). Radar diagram of gene enrichment analysis in KEGG module (B).

Figure 4

Number of genes encoding different carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZy) classes of CAZy database (A). The top twenty families of CAZy are involved in carbohydrate metabolism in Shubat samples (B).