Presence of lactose genes and insertion sequences in plasmids of minor species of the genus lactococcus.

The type strains of all known species and biovars of the Lactococcus genus were tested for the presence of plasmids, lactose genes, and insertion sequences cloned from the lactose plasmid of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis. Only the biovar xylosus of this subspecies is plasmid free. The lactose plasmid is present only in lactose-positive strains except in Lactococcus plantarum. The distribution of insertion sequences varies within the type strains of the Lactococcus genus.