Leuconostoc
Leuconostoc[2] is a genus of gram-positive bacteria, placed within the family of Leuconostocaceae. They are generally ovoid cocci often forming chains. Leuconostoc spp. are intrinsically resistant to vancomycin and are catalase-negative (which distinguishes them from staphylococci). All species within this genus are heterofermentative and are able to produce dextran from sucrose. They are generally slime-forming.
Leuconostoc | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
Division: | |
Class: | |
Order: | |
Family: | Leuconostocaceae |
Genus: | Leuconostoc van Tieghem 1878 |
Species | |
L. carnosum |
Blamed for causing the 'stink' when creating a sourdough starter, some species are also capable of causing human infection.[3] Because they are an uncommon cause of disease in humans, standard commercial identification kits are often unable to identify the organism.[4]
Leuconostoc spp., along with other lactic acid bacteria such as Pediococcus and Lactobacillus, are responsible for the fermentation of cabbage, making it sauerkraut. In this process, fresh cabbage is fermented in a light brine, where the sugars in the cabbage are transformed by lactofermentation to lactic acid which gives the cabbage a sour flavour and good keeping qualities. Leuconostoc spp. are similarly part of the symbiotic colonies of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) involved in the fermentation of kefir, a fermented milk beverage[5] and kombucha, a fermented tea.
Leuconostoc citrovorum
Taxon Leuconostoc citrovorum (Hammer) Hucker and Pederson 1931 was rejected in 1971 as nomen dubium by the Judicial Commission of International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes (in Opinion 45).[6][7]
References
- Parte, A.C. "Leuconostoc". LPSN.
- Björkroth, J., and W. Holzapfel. 2006. Genera Leuconostoc, Oenococcus and Weissella, p.267 -319. In M. Dworkin (ed.), The prokaryotes: a handbook on the biology of bacteria: Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria, vol. 4, 3rd ed. Springer-Verlag, New York, NY.
- Vagiakou-Voudris E, Mylona-Petropoulou D, Kalogeropoulou E, Chantzis A, Chini S, Tsiodra P, Malamou-Lada E (2002). "Multiple Liver Abscesses Associated with Bacteremia due to Leuconostoc lactis". Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases. 34 (10): 766–7. doi:10.1080/00365540260348572. PMID 12477331.
- Kulwichit W, Nilgate S, Chatsuwan T, et al. (2007). "Accuracies of Leuconostoc phenotypic identification: a comparison of API systems and conventional phenotypic assays". BMC Infectious Diseases. 7: 69. doi:10.1186/1471-2334-7-69. PMC 1947989. PMID 17605772.
- Farnworth, Edward R (4 April 2005). "Kefir-a complex probiotic" (PDF). Food Science and Technology Bulletin: Functional Foods. 2 (1): 1–17. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.583.6014. doi:10.1616/1476-2137.13938. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
- Lapage SP; et al. (1992). "List 5. Rejected specific and subspecific epithets in names of species and subspecies of bacteria (epitheta specifica et subspecifica rejicienda)". ASM Press.
- Lapage SP; et al. (1992). International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria: Bacteriological Code, 1990 Revision. ASM Press.