Isolation, Identification and Taxonomic affiliation of Exopolysaccharide Producing lactic acid bacteria from Kradi cheese

Abstract

Kradi cheese is manufactured by coagulation of naturally fermented butter milk containing different strains of lactic acid bacteria. In this study lactic acid bacterial strains were isolated from kradi cheese and screened for exopolysaccharide potential. The taxonomic group of the exopolysaccharide producing lactic acid bacterial strains was determined on the basis of their 16S rRNA sequences. Nine strains were shown to produce exopolysaccharides in MRS medium with sucrose. Four strains belonged to lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis and five strains to Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris species. Isolated strains showed varied yield of exopolysaccharides. The exopolysaccharides had high molecular mass of 1500 kDa and glucose was dominant in their monomer composition.