Isolation and Characterization of Lactococcal Bacteriophages from Cultured Buttermilk Plants in the United States

Abstract
From July 1993 and June 1994, 27 different lac- tococcal bacteriophages,were isolated from 27 US cul- tured buttermilk plants located in 23 states. Phages were characterized by DNA homology, electron microscopy, restriction patterns, genome size, host range, and serology. Over 80% (22 , first thorough,examination,of industrial lactococcal phages isolated from,buttermilk,plants. ( Key words: buttermilk, lactococci, bacteriophage) Abbreviation key: MAb = monoclonal,antibodies.