Genetic cluster of strains of Streptococcus thermophilus having unique rheological properties for dairy fermentation

A strain of Streptococcus thermophilus, wherein the genome of said strain comprises a CRISPR locus comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No2, SEQ ID No3, SEQ ID No4, SEQ ID No5, SEQ ID No6, SEQ ID No7, SEQ ID No8, SEQ ID No9, SEQ ID No10, SEQ ID No11, and SEQ ID No12 and a derivative nucleotide sequence having at least 90% identity with SEQ ID No2, SEQ ID No3, SEQ ID No4, SEQ ID No5, SEQ ID No6, SEQ ID No7, SEQ ID No8, SEQ ID No9, SEQ ID No10, SEQ ID No11 or SEQ ID No12 and wherein when said strain ferments milk, the fermented milk has a viscosity greater than about 55 Pa·s when measured with Test A and a Caber Relative Break-up Time of less than about 0.015 seconds when measured with Test B.

A strain of Streptococcus thermophilus deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 7th of Oct. 2008 in the name of Danisco Deutschland GmbH at the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen under number DSM 21892.