PROTOPLAST FUSION BETWEEN LACTOBACILLUS-CASEI AND LACTOBACILLUS-ACIDOPHILUS

From the fusion between Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus acidophi lus, 8 fusants were selected: Four were able to ferment maltose, lacto se, galactose and mannose, but two had greater abilities of acid produ ction than parents. Increased values of up to 7.6-8% in beta-galactosi dase activity were obtained from two when compared to that of L. acido philus, whereas another 2 had activities of 800 and 548 nmol/mg protei n/min comparable to that of L. casei giving a value of 400 nmol/mg pro tein/min in phospho-beta-galactosidase activity.