VARIATION AMONG THE HETEROFERMENTATIVE LACTIC ACID BACTERIA

Abstract

Lactic acid bacteria isolated from environments unfavorable for their natural growth often exhibit such atypical growth characteristics that their identity is obscured. By serial transfer in various media, strains of the species Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Lactobacillus brevis and L. fermenti, including many atypical types, were stimulated to react similarly within their respective species varying in dextran production, sugar fermentation and total acid production. Certain characteristics seem to be constant, such as the type of lactic acid formed and the production of mannitol from fructose.