Identification of Lactococcus lactis subsp Isolates Based on Their Cell Wall Protein Profiles and Plasmid Contents

In this study, among the total 50 lactococci isolates, 44% L. lactis subsp. lactis, 28% L. lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis and 28% L. lactis subsp. cremoris strains were identified by their phenotypic characterization. According to the cell wall protein patterns, 8.6, 12.5, 14.7, 20.3. 23.4, 25.4, and 31.8 kDa proteins were found identical within 82% of isolates. Moreover 93% of L. lactis subsp. cremoris strains contained a unique 157.8 kDa protein; however. L. lactis subsp. lactis and L. lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis had no unique protein in their groups. Also a key plasmid profile, which would be used to determine the isolates at subspecies level. could not be obtained.