Lactose-positive recombinant leuconostoc strain

Abstract

The present invention provides a Leuconostoc bacterial strain for use in the diary industry to prevent the growth of pathogenic micro-organisms and thereby ensure the quality and safety of milk products produced by fermentation, including cheese, yoghurt, sour cream, buttermilk and kefir products. The Leuconostoc bacterial strain of the invention is a recombinant Leuconostoc carnosum strain, characterised by a lactose-positive phenotype with the ability to utilise lactose as sole carbon source. The invention provides a starter culture comprising the lactose-positive Leuconostoc carnosum of the invention for use in the manufacture of milk products, and milk products prepared with said Leuconostoc strain or said starter culture.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.