The isolated strains were first identified by species-specific PCR
and the 16S rRNA gene of one representative isolatewas sequenced
for verification. Species-specific PCRwas based on the amplification
of an intragenic fragment of 968 bp within the lacZ gene of
S. thermophilus (Lick et al., 1995). Primers used for the amplification
were 50- CAC TAT GCT CAG AAT ACA -30 and 50- CGA ACA GCA TTG
ATG TTA -30 for forward and reverse strand respectively.