Abstract
Lactobacillus curvatus and Lactobacillus sake are each genetically homogeneous species, as indicated by the high levels of DNA homology (> or = 76%) exhibited by strains of these taxa. However, the results of a numerical analysis of total soluble cell protein patterns and biochemical test data revealed that there are two phenotypic subgroups within L, curvatus and two phenotypic subgroups within L. sake. The overall randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR band patterns obtained for the majority of L. curvatus strains corresponded well to the pattern obtained for the type strain of L. curvatus (strain DSM 20019). However, six strains of L. curvatus had different, but similar, RAPD-PCR profiles and grouped in a separate genetic cluster, which was linked to one of the clusters of L. sake strains. On the basis of these results, differences in biochemical and physiological characteristics, and total soluble cell protein profiles, we describe the subspecies L. curvatus subsp. curvatus subsp. nov. and L. curvatus subsp. melibiosus subsp. nov. for L. curvatus Abo-Elnaga and Kandler 1965 (Klein et al. 1996, emended description). Strains of L. sake grouped in two RAPD-PCR clusters, which was consistent with previous reports of phenotypic heterogeneity. Strains of Lactobacillus bavaricus, including type strain LMG 9844, clustered with the type strain of L. sake (strain NCFB 2714), indicating that these organisms belong to the same genetic group. We propose that strains of L. sake Katagiri, Kitahara, and Fukami 1934 (Klein et al. 1996, emended description) should be reclassified as members of L. sake subsp. sake subsp. nov. and L. sake subsp. carnosus subsp. nov. Strains of L. bavaricus are reclassified as members of L. sake subsp. sake, and the name L. bavaricus Stetter and Stetter 1980 is rejected.
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