Functional Acetic Acid Bacteria: Comprehensive Characterization of <i>Acetobacter senegalensis</i> <scp>UNPADCC</scp> 02‐8 Isolated From Oncom Merah

ABSTRACT Oncom merah is a distinctive West Javanese fermented product containing diverse microorganisms, including acetic acid bacteria (AAB), such as Acetobacter senegalensis UNPADCC 02–8. To our knowledge, this study provides the first comprehensive phenotypic, metabolomic, and genomic characterization of A. senegalensis UNPADCC 02–8 isolated from oncom merah. Characterization was carried out through basic microscopy, physiology, the Kirby‐Bauer antibiotic resistance test, organic acid profiling by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS), and whole‐genome sequencing. The results showed that A. senegalensis UNPADCC 02–8 formed round, white‐to‐cream colonies, was Gram‐negative and non‐motile, growing optimally at 37°C and pH 4.5, with tolerance of 4%–6% salinity. This strain was resistant to chloramphenicol, showing high sensitivity to amoxicillin and tetracycline, and intermediate to erythromycin. Metabolite profiling through GC–MS identified key compounds, including acetic acid, butanoic acid, propanedioic acid, and acetoin. Notably, genomic analysis revealed a robust defense mechanism, evidenced by the presence of multiple heat‐shock genes supporting environmental stress tolerance, along with the identification of linocin M18 bacteriocin genes, which have not previously been reported in A. senegalensis isolated from traditional Indonesian fermented foods. Together with its organic acid production, these genomic features support the potential of A. senegalensis UNPADCC 02–8 for application in fermented food systems. However, the resistance profile required further safety evaluation before being used as a probiotic candidate or for other industrial applications.