Morphological, biochemical, and physiological characteristics of spore-forming lactic acid bacteria

Abstract

One hundred and eighteen strains of spore-forming lactic acid bacteria, and one strain of Lactobacillus plantarum were investigated with regard to morphological, biochemical, and physiological characteristics. These characteristics were analyzed numerically. The strains were separated into three clusters. Cluster 1 consists of 44 strains including Sporolactobacillus inulinus (2 strains), “Sporolactobacillus laevas” (15 strains), “Sporolacto-bacillus laevas var. intermedius” (7 strains), “Sporolactobacillus racemicus” (7 strains), “Bacillus laevolacticus” (12 strains), and “Bacillus racemilacticus” (1 strain). Cluster 2 consists of 70 strains: “B. laevolacticus” (57 strains), “B. racemilacticus” (2 strains), “S. racemicus” (8 strains), “S. laevas” (2 strains), and “S. laevas var. intermedius” (1 strain). Cluster 3 comprises 3 strains including the type strain of Bacillus coagulans and one strain each of “B. laevolacticus” and “B. racemilacticus.” One strain of “S. racemicus” and the type strain of Lactobacillus plantarum were not included in the above clusters. The clusters are considered to correspond respectively to the taxa Sporolactobacillus, “Bacillus laevolacticus,” and Bacillus coagulans. Catalase activity and production of acid from lactose and melibiose were useful in differentiating the three clusters. © 1987, Applied Microbiology, Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Research Foundation. All rights reserved.