Ask A Scientist Molecular Biology Archive

name         Julie B.
status       educator

Question -   What are the specific bacteria that are used to produce
different cheeses? Most commercial sites just list general bacterial
classifications. My students are interested in genus and species names.
For example, what bacteria is used to help in the production of parmesan
cheese?
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Most cheeses that are produced with a special kind of
bacteria keep exact information on their species from
the public, as far as I know. I have not seen more
info published than species or genus names. In fact,
when I looked up information about this for the
Virtual Museum of Bacteria I did not find much. I guess
most of this is commercially protected. So I cannot
help directly, but I will try to find more on the web,
and if there is sufficient I will add an exhibit on
'good bacteria in food' to the Virtual Museum of
Bacteria. Give me a few weeks to do that.

Trudy Wassenaar
curator of the Virtual Museum of Bacteria
www.bacteriamuseum.org
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I would refer you to the latest issue of Discover magazine 
(October-November 2001).  They have an article about the science of cheese 
making.

vanhoeck
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