Open AccessA genus‐specific PCR method for differentiation between Leuconostoc and Weissella and its application in identification of heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria from coffee fermentation
Author(s) -
Schillinger Ulrich,
Boehringer Benjamin,
Wallbaum Sabrina,
Caroline Lily,
Gonfa Almaz,
Huch née Kostinek Melanie,
Holzapfel Wilhelm H.,
Franz Charles M.A.P.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2008.01286.x
Subject(s) - weissella , leuconostoc , biology , 16s ribosomal rna , bacteria , fermentation , microbiology and biotechnology , lactic acid , ribosomal rna , pediococcus , lactobacillus , food science , biochemistry , gene , genetics
A genus‐specific PCR analysis method was developed for a rapid and reliable differentiation between the two heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria genera Leuconostoc and Weissella . Primer sets specific for target regions of the 16S rRNA genes were designed and the specificity of the PCR was evaluated using the type strains of 13 species of Leuconostoc and 11 species of Weissella . In addition, the newly developed genus‐specific PCR analysis was applied to characterize 72 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains isolated from coffee fermentation and which were presumptively classified as Leuconostoc or Weissella species. Additionally, a total of 34 LAB isolates from various other fermented foods were included. The investigations of these strains were conducted to test the effectiveness of correct characterization of field isolates using the genus‐specific PCR approach. The correct assignment to one of these two genera by the application of the genus‐specific primers was confirmed by further identifying the strains using repetitive extragenic palindromic‐PCR and 16S rRNA gene sequencing.