Identification of Leuconostoc spp. by analysis of soluble whole-cell protein patterns.

Leuconostoc spp. share several physiologic characteristics, which sometimes makes it difficult to identify these organisms to the species level. We developed a system, based on the patterns of soluble whole-cell proteins separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, that was able to discriminate between the six Leuconostoc spp. that are capable of growth at 37 degrees C. Nine unidentified Leuconostoc-like bacterial isolates that were included in the study did not fit any of the protein profiles of the type strains and may represent new Leuconostoc spp.