Taxonomic studies on some leuconostoc‐like organisms from fermented sausages: description of a new genus Weissella for the Leuconostoc paramesenteroides group of species

Abstract

Taxonomic studies were performed on some unknown Leuconostoc-like organisms from fermented Greek sausage. Comparative 16S rRNA sequence analysis showed the unidentified organisms represent a new line within the Leuconostoc paramesenteroides group of species. On the basis of the results of this and earlier phylogenetic investigations, it is proposed that Leuconostoc paramesenteroides and related species be reclassified in a new genus Weissella. In addition a new species, Weissella hellenica, is proposed for the isolates from fermented sausage.

Characterization and identification of lactic acid bacteria in “morcilla de Burgos”

“…According to the scheme by Schillinger and Lücke (1987), Shaw and Harding (1989) and Collins et al (1993), 165 strains from the total of lactic isolates were phenotypically identified and 11 isolates with an uncertain identity were classified as Lactobacillus spp. The strains identified were divided in seven groups (A to G, Table 1).…”

“…Most of the strains from this group produced dextran from sucrose (71%) and none of them fermented inulin, mannitol and melezitose. This group was subdivided in three subgroups according to the diagnostics characteristics given by Shaw and Harding (1989), Collins et al (1993) and Villani et al (1997). Subgroup B1 included 20 strains (11.4% of the total LAB isolated) and they were described as Lc.…”

“…92 119 120 121 and identification experiments, isolates were cultured at 30°C in MRS broth for 24 h or on MRS agar for two to three days at 30°C. 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 Identification of the isolates was done by comparing the phenotypic and biochemical characteristics of the strains with the previously published data (Schillinger and Lücke, 1987;Shaw and Harding, 1989;Collins et al, 1993;Villani et al, 1997). Phase contrast microscopy was used for examining the cell morphology.…”

Characterization and identification of weissellicin Y and weissellicin M, novel bacteriocins produced by Weissella hellenica QU 13

“…The presence of characteristic signatures in the 16S rDNA is known to provide further evidence for identification. The most notable signature for Weissella is the diagnostic sequences in 1007 ⁄ 1022 of the variable region V6, which readily distinguishes an unknown bacterium from all known species of the Weissella genus (Collins et al 1993). In this region, strain QU 13 showed 100% homology with W. hellenica but proved to be significantly different from W. paramesenteroides (data not shown).…”

“…The obtained pattern was analysed using the apiweb software (bioMérieux) and compared to the previous report (Collins et al 1993). A partial 16S rDNA region of strain QU 13, corresponding to positions 8-1510 of E. coli 16S rDNA, was analysed as described previously (Zendo et al 2005).…”