Development of a genus-specific PCR combined with ARDRA for the identification of Leuconostoc species in kimchi

With Leuconostoc species being increasingly isolated from many fermented kimchi, a systematic identification of this genus is required, for which an amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) has been developed. This method applies both polymerase chain reaction and restriction pattern analysis using a restriction enzyme. First, using specific primers that were designed from lactic acid bacteria (LAB) sequences, 217 bp specific to LAB was produced. Then, restriction analysis using the MspI was applied to identify these bacteria at the species level. This study demonstrates novel ARDRA technique for the identification of Leuconostoc species was successful in identifying according to the genomic species.