title: A note on the heterofermentative Lactobacillus isolated from kefir grains.
abstract: Heterofermentative lactobacilli have been isolated from kefir grains obtained from four different sources. A number of these isolates ferment only L-arabinose and gluconate and are similar to the species 'Lactobacillus desidiosus'. The DNA of these isolates, however, have 85-109% homology with 'L. caucasicus' NCDO 190 which is now regarded as L. kefir. The relationship between these strains is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D005285:Fermentation; D005516:Food Microbiology; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008892:Milk / Q000382:microbiology*