Fifty eight isolates of lactic acid bacteria were obtained from different
local fermented foods. Isolates were identified using microscopic, cultural and
biochemical tests using API strips. Results showed that 44.83% of the isolates
were rod shape
d and 55.17% belonged to cocci bacteria.
This research was conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture, Department of
Food Science laboratories to isolate lactic acid bacteria from some Syrian milk
products (milk, yogurt, cheese) and determine some morphological,
physiological characteristic and the ability of these isolates to ferment sugars.
This study aimed to investigate the possibility of rapid identification of
isolated bacteria Leuconostoc from Syrian white fresh cheese made of cow and
ewe milk using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). 20 isolates (14
from ewe milk ch
eese and 6 from cow milk cheese) were isolated. These isolates
were pretasted with PCR technique using specific primers. Results indicated
that these isolates are belonged to the genus Leuconostoc and 12 of them are
belonged to Ln. mesenteroides species. The results of FTIR technique showed in
comparison to device library that all isolates are belonged to genus
Leuconostoc, and 4 of these isolates are belonged to Ln. citreum species which
could not be identified using PCR method (with the used primers), and helped
to identify the following subspecies: Ln.mesenteroides subsp mesenteroides and
Ln. mesenteroides subsp dextranicum while PCR technique described them
belonging only to a Ln. mesenteroides species. Moreover, FTIR technique was
able to give the results within 25 hours, thus it can be used in identification of
food bacteria more quickly.