Identification of lactic acid cocci from Tibetan kefir grains using polyphasic taxonomy method

Abstract:

[Objective] Polyphasic Taxonomy Method was used to identify 16 strains of Lactic acid cocci from Tibetan kefir. [Methods] Traditional physiological and biochemical method、16S-23S rRNA Intergenic spacer region polymorphism、Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) and 16S rRNA gene sequences analysis were carried out in this investigation. [Results] 16 strains were identified as Enterococcus, Lactococcus and Pediococcus, specificly 14 Enterococcus durans strains, 1 Pediococcus acidilactic strain and 1 Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis strain. 16S rRNA gene sequences analysis was agreed with the previous results of three methods. [Conclusion] The results showed that polyphasic taxonomy method combined with traditional physiological and biochemical identification method, 16S-23S rRNA Intergenic spacer region polymorphism, DGGE and 16S rRNA gene analysis was suitable to accurately identify Lactic acid cocci.