ABSTRACTAn interspecies genetic recombination by fusion of protoplasts of antibiotic-resistant clones of lactobacilli: Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus casei, and Lactobacillus plantarum has been accomplished. It has been shown that the conditions of degradation of the lactobacilli cell wall allow a high relative share of formed protoplasts to be achieved. After the protoplast fusion and regeneration of the cell wall a heterogenic population is obtained. A series of recombinant clones has been selected, which differ from the parent cultures in improved or new qualities, such as higher reproducibility, acid-forming ability, assimilation and fermentation of a greater number of carbon sources, phage-resistance etc. Among them have been selected the recombinant strains—Lactobacillus LAB 8, Lactobacillus LHC 28, Lactobacillus LBC 7, Lactobacillus LBC 16, Lactobacillus LPC 12, Lactobacillus LPC 48, Lactobacillus LPC 51.