Comparative Analysis of the Microbial Community Profiles of Sichuan and Guizhou Smoke-Cured Sausages Using a High-Throughput Sequencing Approach

Autochthonous microorganisms play critical roles in shaping the quality of Chinese sausages and may be influenced by local climate and/or processing conditions. The present study aimed to reveal the interprovincial differences in microbial community between Sichuan and Guizhou sausages, as well as driving factors based on high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. The results indicated that <i>Cobetia</i>, <i>Debaryomycetaceae</i>, <i>Kurtzmaniella</i>, and <i>Candida zeylanoides</i> served as biomarkers for Sichuan sausages. In contrast, <i>Enterococcus</i>, unclassified Cyanobacteriales, <i>Lactobacillales</i>, <i>Aspergillus vitricola</i>, <i>Mortierella</i>, <i>Fusarium,</i> and <i>Penicillium</i> were identified as biomarkers for Guizhou sausages. Furthermore, salt content and moisture level showed positive correlations with <i>Cobetia, Staphylococcus</i>, <i>Debaryomyces</i>, and <i>Kurtzmaniella,</i> mainly found in Sichuan sausages. Conversely, pH and water activity (Aw) were positively associated with potential pathogenic bacteria (e.g., <i>Vibrio</i>, <i>Cyanobacteria</i>, <i>Enterococcus</i>, and <i>Aeromonas</i>) and fungi (e.g., <i>Aspergillus</i>, <i>Fusarium</i>, and <i>Penicillium</i>), which were mainly distributed in Guizhou sausages. Notably, microbial composition discrepancies between Sichuan and Guizhou sausages were primarily driven by processing conditions rather than regional climate factors. Collectively, these findings provide valuable insight for developing novel specific starters.