Abstract
A total of 305 strains of lactobacilli were isolated from the feces of 40 healthy adults. They were identified by phenotypic properties such as carbohydrate fermentation pattern, gas formation and growth at 15°C, as well as DNA-DNA hybridization in some strains. The strains isolated were identified as Lactobacillus salivarius, L. gasseri, L. reuteri, L. crispatus, L. paracasei, L. rhamnosus, L. plantarum, L. acidophilus group, L. fermentum and L. coryniformis. Several isolates were not identical to the known species.Of phenospecies, L. acidophilus group biovar I was the most frequently found. Subsequently, L. casei biovar II, L. salivarius biovar Ia and L. reuteri biovar IVb were found. DNA-DNA homology studies revealed that most strains identified phenotypically as L. acidophilus group biovar I were in fact L. gasseri and some strains were not identified asalready described L. acidophilus group species found in the human intestine.
