Heterofermentative Lactobacillus spp from Aswan's grape vines

ABSTRACT

Twenty-six typical heterofermentative strains of Lactobacillus spp. isolated from Aswanese grape vines were identified with the aid of API 5O CHI system and by the analysis of the computerized comparative data of their total soluble cell protein patterns using the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis technique. Ten strains were identified as Lactobacillus hiulgardii, eight as L. brevis, five as L. buchneri, two as L. Viridescens and only one strain as L. cellobiosus. Three strains of L. buchneri, four of L. hiulgardii, two of L. Brevis and one strain of L. viridescens produced H2S in peptone water supplemented with 0.01% cysteine. All strains produced mannitol from fructose and thus described heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria. Proteolytic activity was detected in all strains capable of digesting gelatine and also hydrolyzed casein. All strains except those of L. Viridescens decarboxylated L-malic acid to L-lactic acid