Differentiation of Lactobacillus helveticus strains using molecular typing methods

Three molecular typing methods: SDS-PAGE, amplification of the 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer (ITS) loci by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD), were examined for their ability to type sixteen strains of Lactobacillus helveticus. Strains were grouped based on SDS-PAGE and ITS amplification patterns. All sixteen strains were distinguished by RAPD. Molecular typing methods allow rapid and relatively inexpensive ways to strain type L. helveticus and potentially other dairy lactobacilli. Copyright (C) 1996 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of the Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology