{
  "abstract": "Cocoa pulp juice is an underutilized by-product generated during cocoa bean fermentation that is rich in fermentable sugars and phytochemicals but remains largely unexplored as a substrate for microbial fermentation. This study aimed to evaluate cocoa pulp juice as a sustainable fermentation substrate for the potential probiotic Lacticaseibacillus paracasei WU2502 using whole-genome sequencing (WGS), carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme) analysis, untargeted LC–QTOF-MS-based metabolite profiling, and antimicrobial evaluation. L. paracasei WU2502 showed substantial growth in cocoa pulp juice, reaching a maximum viable count of 10.70 log CFU/mL in 25% juice and >11 log CFU/mL in 50% and 100% juice, while the pH decreased from approximately 3.9–4.0 at Day 0 to 3.1–3.2 during fermentation. Fermented cocoa pulp juice showed antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and Escherichia coli O157:H7 with MIC and MBC values of 12.5–25% (v/v). In a preliminary qualitative assessment, neutralization reduced the observed inhibitory activity, whereas Proteinase K treatment produced little apparent change, suggesting a possible pH-dependent contribution to the antimicrobial activity. WGS resulted in a 3.02 Mb draft genome with a GC content of 46.27%, 3114 coding sequences and genes relevant to glucose metabolism, acid tolerance, oxidative stress response and antimicrobial activity. Genome mining identified putative bacteriocin-associated regions containing Carnocin CP52- and Thermophilin A-related sequences and a RiPP-like biosynthetic region. No acquired antimicrobial resistance genes or virulence-associated factors were detected. CAZyme analysis revealed glycoside hydrolases and glycosyltransferases that may be involved in carbohydrate metabolic pathways and adaptation to plant-derived substrates. LC–MS/MS analysis of unfermented cocoa pulp juice provided baseline chemical characterization of the starting substrate, with representative putative annotations including sucrose, maltotriose, myo-inositol, citric acid, pyroglutamic acid, and choline. These findings support the feasibility of cocoa pulp juice as a fermentation substrate for L. paracasei WU2502 and provide a basis for further evaluation of this strain and fermented matrix for potential food applications.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Akkhraratchakumari Veterinary College, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand",
    "Research Center in One Health, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand",
    "Research Center of Excellence in Innovation of Essential Oil Center of Excellence in Innovation of Essential Oil and Bio-Active Compound, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand",
    "Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90110, Thailand",
    "Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran",
    "Department of Medical Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand",
    "Research Center for Microbiome, Systems Biology, and Medical Innovation, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand",
    "Research Center in Tropical Pathobiology, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Watcharapong Mitsuwan",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-9048-3955"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Phoomjai Sornsenee"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Morteza Saki",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-7419-0116"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5,
        6,
        7
      ],
      "name": "Chonticha Romyasamit",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-1403-1628"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9v1azn2vbkxbd.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/ijms27219795",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "9v1azn2vbkxbd",
  "issns": [
    "1422-0067"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9795",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-31",
  "publisher": "MDPI AG",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9v1azn2vbkxbd.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-05T00:20:58Z",
      "native_id": "10.3390/ijms27219795",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9795"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "issn:1422-0067",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Cocoa Pulp Juice as a Fermentation Substrate for Potential Probiotic Lacticaseibacillus paracasei WU2502: Genomic Characterization, Metabolite Profiling, and Antimicrobial Activity Against Foodborne Pathogens",
  "title_text": "Cocoa Pulp Juice as a Fermentation Substrate for Potential Probiotic Lacticaseibacillus paracasei WU2502: Genomic Characterization, Metabolite Profiling, and Antimicrobial Activity Against Foodborne Pathogens",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-06T00:21:14Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9v1azn2vbkxbd",
  "venue": "International Journal of Molecular Sciences",
  "versions": []
}