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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, June 2001, p. 2578-2585, Vol. 67, No. 6
Institute of Food Technology, University of
Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany,1 and
Department of Microbiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New
Zealand2
Received 1 December 2000/Accepted 20 March 2001
Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of DNA fragments
generated by PCR with 16S ribosomal DNA-targeted group-specific primers
was used to detect lactic acid bacteria (LAB) of the genera Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, Leuconostoc, and
Weissella in human feces. Analysis of fecal samples of four
subjects revealed individual profiles of DNA fragments originating not
only from species that have been described as intestinal inhabitants
but also from characteristically food-associated bacteria such as
Lactobacillus sakei, Lactobacillus curvatus, Leuconostoc
mesenteroides, and Pediococcus pentosaceus. Comparison of PCR-DGGE results with those of bacteriological culture showed that the food-associated species could not be cultured from the
fecal samples by plating on Rogosa agar. On the other hand, all of the
LAB species cultured from feces were detected in the DGGE profile. We
also detected changes in the types of LAB present in human feces during
consumption of a milk product containing the probiotic strain
Lactobacillus rhamnosus DR20. The analysis of fecal samples
from two subjects taken before, during, and after administration of the
probiotic revealed that L. rhamnosus was detectable by
PCR-DGGE during the test period in the feces of both subjects, whereas
it was detectable by culture in only one of the subjects.
0099-2240/01/$04.00+0 DOI: 10.1128/AEM.67.6.2578-2585.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
Detection of Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, Leuconostoc,
and Weissella Species in Human Feces by Using Group-Specific
PCR Primers and Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis
*
Corresponding author. Mailing address: Institute of
Food Technology, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 28, D-70599
Stuttgart, Germany. Phone: 49 711 459 4255. Fax: 49 711 459 4199. E-mail: hertel{at}uni-hohenheim.de.
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