Molecular Characterization of Lactic Acid Bacteria present in “Wara” in Owo L.G. Ondo State, Nigeria
Ojo, R.O., Akinsola I. I., Olatunde, A. O. & Ogundeyi, S. B
Department of Biological Sciences
Achievers University, P. M. B. 1030Owo.Ondo State Nigeria
Email: 08062484836@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were Isolated from local cheese samples from three different location in Owo, Ondo State (South Western part of Nigeria). All the “wara” are of the group of semi hard cheese and produced from Cows milk without the addition of starter culture. 378 (Three hundred and seventy eight) isolates, only fifteen (15) were Gram positive and catalase negative through the biolchemical characterization. Four (4) species of (LAB) were mostly Present in the “wara”:LactococcusLactis, Lactobacillus Plantarum, Lactobacillus caseiand Enterococcus faecalis. Further identifaction at the species level indicated that all the lactococci isolates were L.lactis.three of the Enterococci were Enterococcifaecalisand lactobacilli were identified as Lactobacillusplantinum (1 Isolate). Lactobacillus casei(2 Isolates). PCR – RFLP method which is based on the amplification of 16srRNA – ITS genes was used for the molecular characterization.
Keywords: “Wara”, Starter culture, isolates molecular characterization and polymerase chain reaction
