Leuconostoc

A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Leuconostoc

Classification

Higher order taxa:

Bacteria; Firmicutes; Bacilli; Lactobacillales; Leuconostocaceae

Species:

L. carnosum, L. citreum, L. durionis, L. fallax, L. ficulneum, L. fructosum, L. garlicum, L. gasicomitatum,
L. gelidum, L. inhae, L. kimchii, L. lactis, L. mesenteroides, L. pseudoficulneum, L. pseudomesenteroides

NCBI: Taxonomy

Description and Significance

Leuconostoc is a gram-positive coccus with spherical cell, often lenticular on agar and usually occurs in pairs or chains. Leuconostoc is nonmotile, not spore forming chemoorganotrophic facultative anaerobe. Leuconostoc requires rich, complex media. It is catalase-negative nonproteolytic organism without cytochromes. Leuconostoc is nonhemolytic, vancomycin resistant organism. Leuconostoc usually nonpathogenic with optimal temperature 20 to 30’C. Leuconostoc requires nicotinic acid, thiamin, biotin, and pantothenic acid or one of its derivatives. It is heterofermentative (uses a combination of the pentose phosphate and phosphoketolase pathways). Milk is usually not acidified and clotted without added yeast extract.