Identification of Leuconostoc Strains Isolated from Kimchi Using Carbon-source Utilization Patterns

Abstract

The database of metabolic fingerprints generated using the Biolog system of lactic acid bacteria isolated from kimchi, described by Lee et al. (8), was used for the identification of 75 Leuconostoc isolates. The test strains were isolated using a selective isolation medium specific for the genus Leuconostoc and examined for their ability to oxidize carbon sources using the Biolog system. The results show that the 75 test strains were identified to the known Leuconostoce clusters. It is suggested that the Biolog system can be applied for rapid identification of lactic acid bacteria isolated from kimchi.