Characterization of Leuconostoc lactis strains from human sources.

An examination of 23 vancomycin-resistant, streptococcuslike isolates of clinical origin revealed a group of 14 to be related to Leuconostoc lactis (type strain, CIP 102422) on the basis of chemotaxonomic studies. These isolates were initially shown to be atypical by classical biochemical tests. However, they were characterized in particular by their polar lipid patterns by thin-layer chromatography and, additionally, by whole-cell protein patterns by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It is feasible, therefore, that common biochemical tests may continue to serve the purpose of routine identification, even though such isolates were formerly thought to be only of dairy origin.