Genomic subpopulations within the species Pediococcus acidilactici detected by multilocus typing analysis: relationships between pediocin AcH/PA-1 producing and non-producing strains

A high degree of genetic polymorphism among P. acidilactici strains was highlighted by a multilocus typing approach analysing several housekeeping genes and by sampling the whole genome using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprint analysis performed by using a single primer pedA gene targeted in low-stringency amplification conditions. Restriction fragment length polymorphism of the rpoC, ldhD/L and mle genes, and a modified RAPD analysis, permitted the grouping of Pediococcus acidilactici strains in seven genotypes (I–VII). Genotypic results obtained by analysing housekeeping genes involved in the transcription/translation machinery and in primary metabolism were supported by phylogenetic analysis based on the partial 16S rDNA sequencing of a reference strain of each of the seven clusters obtained. Three of the seven genotypes detected showed relationships with pediocin AcH/PA-1 production and carbohydrate fermentation patterns: all pediocin-producing and sucrose-positive strains were grouped in genotype VII, melibiose-, sucrose- and raffinose-positive strains in genotype VI, and arabinose-positive strains in genotype V.