''Leuconostoc'' is a genus of
gram-positive bacteria, placed within the family of
Lactobacillaceae. They are generally ovoid
cocci often forming chains. ''Leuconostoc'' spp. are intrinsically resistant to
vancomycin and are
catalase
Catalase is a common enzyme found in nearly all living organisms exposed to oxygen (such as bacteria, plants, and animals) which catalyzes the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen. It is a very important enzyme in protecting t ...
-negative (which distinguishes them from
staphylococci). All species within this genus are
heterofermentative
Fermentation is a metabolic process that produces chemical changes in organic substrates through the action of enzymes. In biochemistry, it is narrowly defined as the extraction of energy from carbohydrates in the absence of oxygen. In food ...
and are able to produce
dextran
Dextran is a complex branched glucan (polysaccharide derived from the condensation of glucose), originally derived from wine. IUPAC defines dextrans as "Branched poly-α-d-glucosides of microbial origin having glycosidic bonds predominantly C-1 ...
from
sucrose
Sucrose, a disaccharide, is a sugar composed of glucose and fructose subunits. It is produced naturally in plants and is the main constituent of white sugar. It has the molecular formula .
For human consumption, sucrose is extracted and refined ...
. They are generally slime-forming.
Blamed for causing the 'stink' when creating a
sourdough starter
Sourdough or sourdough bread is a bread made by the fermentation of dough using wild lactobacillaceae and yeast. Lactic acid from fermentation imparts a sour taste and improves keeping qualities.
History
In the ''Encyclopedia of Food Microbio ...
, some species are also capable of causing human infection. Because they are an uncommon cause of disease in humans, standard commercial identification kits are often unable to identify the organism.
''Leuconostoc'' spp., along with other lactic acid bacteria such as ''
Pediococcus'' and ''
Lactobacillus'', are responsible for the
fermentation
Fermentation is a metabolic process that produces chemical changes in organic substrates through the action of enzymes. In biochemistry, it is narrowly defined as the extraction of energy from carbohydrates in the absence of oxygen. In food ...
of
cabbage
Cabbage, comprising several cultivars of ''Brassica oleracea'', is a leafy green, red (purple), or white (pale green) biennial plant grown as an annual vegetable crop for its dense-leaved heads. It is descended from the wild cabbage ( ''B.&nb ...
, making it
sauerkraut. In this process, fresh cabbage is fermented in a light
brine
Brine is a high-concentration solution of salt (NaCl) in water (H2O). In diverse contexts, ''brine'' may refer to the salt solutions ranging from about 3.5% (a typical concentration of seawater, on the lower end of that of solutions used for br ...
, 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
and
kombucha, a fermented tea.
Species
The genus ''Leuconostoc'' comprises the following species:
* ''
Leuconostoc carnosum
''Leuconostoc carnosum'' is a lactic acid bacterium; its type strain is NCFB 2776. Its genome has been sequenced. Its name derives from the fact that it was first isolated from chill-stored meats. Its significance is that it thrives in anaerobic ...
''
Shaw and Harding 1989
* ''
Leuconostoc citreum''
Farrow ''et al''. 1989
* ''
Leuconostoc falkenbergense''
Wu and Gu 2021
* ''
Leuconostoc fallax
''Leuconostoc'' is a genus of gram-positive bacteria, placed within the family of Lactobacillaceae. They are generally ovoid cocci often forming chains. ''Leuconostoc'' spp. are intrinsically resistant to vancomycin and are catalase-negative ( ...
''
Martinez-Murcia and Collins 1992
* "''Leuconostoc garlicum''"
Kim ''et al''. 2002
* ''
Leuconostoc gelidum
Leuconostoc gelidum is a Gram-positive lactic acid bacterium
Lactobacillales are an order of gram-positive, low-GC, acid-tolerant, generally nonsporulating, nonrespiring, either rod-shaped (bacilli) or spherical (cocci) bacteria that share ...
''
Shaw and Harding 1989
* ''
Leuconostoc holzapfelii
''Leuconostoc'' is a genus of gram-positive bacteria, placed within the family of Lactobacillaceae. They are generally ovoid cocci often forming chains. ''Leuconostoc'' spp. are intrinsically resistant to vancomycin and are catalase-negative ( ...
''
De Bruyne ''et al''. 2007
* ''
Leuconostoc inhae
''Leuconostoc'' is a genus of gram-positive bacteria, placed within the family of Lactobacillaceae. They are generally ovoid cocci often forming chains. ''Leuconostoc'' spp. are intrinsically resistant to vancomycin and are catalase-negative (wh ...
''
Kim ''et al''. 2003
* ''
Leuconostoc kimchii
''Leuconostoc'' is a genus of gram-positive bacteria, placed within the family of Lactobacillaceae. They are generally ovoid cocci often forming chains. ''Leuconostoc'' spp. are intrinsically resistant to vancomycin and are catalase-negative ( ...
''
Kim ''et al''. 2000
* ''
Leuconostoc lactis
''Leuconostoc'' is a genus of gram-positive bacteria, placed within the family of Lactobacillaceae. They are generally ovoid cocci often forming chains. ''Leuconostoc'' spp. are intrinsically resistant to vancomycin and are catalase-negative (wh ...
''
Garvie 1960 (Approved Lists 1980)
* ''
Leuconostoc litchii''
Chen ''et al''. 2020
* ''
Leuconostoc mesenteroides''
(Tsenkovskii 1878) van Tieghem 1878 (Approved Lists 1980)
* ''
Leuconostoc miyukkimchii''
Lee ''et al''. 2012
* ''
Leuconostoc palmae
''Leuconostoc palmae'' is a Gram-positive, non-spore
In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Sp ...
''
Ehrmann ''et al''. 2009
* ''
Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides''
Farrow ''et al''. 1989
* ''
Leuconostoc rapi
''Leuconostoc rapi'' is a Gram-positive bacterium from the genus of '' Leuconostoc'' which has been isolated from a rutabaga in Finland.
References
Lactobacillaceae
Bacteria described in 2015
{{Firmicutes-stub ...
''
Lyhs ''et al''. 2015
* ''
Leuconostoc suionicum''
(Gu ''et al''. 2012) Jeon ''et al''. 2017
''Leuconostoc citrovorum''
The name ''Leuconostoc citrovorum''
(Hammer) Hucker and Pederson 1931 was rejected in 1971 as a ''
nomen dubium
In binomial nomenclature, a ''nomen dubium'' (Latin for "doubtful name", plural ''nomina dubia'') is a scientific name that is of unknown or doubtful application.
Zoology
In case of a ''nomen dubium'' it may be impossible to determine whether a s ...
'' by the Judicial Commission of
International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes The International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes (ICSP), formerly the International Committee on Systematic Bacteriology (ICSB), is the body that oversees the nomenclature of prokaryotes, determines the rules by which prokaryotes are named ...
(in Opinion 45).
Phylogeny
The currently accepted taxonomy is based on the
List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature and the phylogeny is based on whole-genome sequences.
References
External links
List of species of the genus ''Leuconostoc''''Leuconostoc''MicrobeWiki
Lactobacillaceae
Garde manger
Bacteria used in dairy products
Bacteria genera
{{lactobacilli-stub