DIFFERENTIATION OF LACTOBACILLUS-HELVETICUS STRAINS USING MOLECULAR TYPING METHODS

Three molecular typing methods: SDS-PAGE, amplification of the 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer (ITS) loci by the polymerase chain reacti on (PCR), and random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD), were exa mined for their ability to type sixteen strains of Lactobacillus helve ticus. Strains were grouped based on SDS-PAGE and ITS amplification pa tterns. All sixteen strains were distinguished by RAPD. Molecular typi ng methods allow rapid and relatively inexpensive ways to strain type L. helveticus and potentially other dairy lactobacilli. Copyright (C) 1996 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of the Canadian Insti tute of Food Science and Technology