RESUMEN
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) produce homopolysaccharides (HoPS) and heteropolysaccharides (HePS) with potential functional properties. In this work, we have performed a comparative analysis of production and purification trials of these biopolymers from bacterial culture supernatants. LAB strains belonging to four different genera, both natural as well as recombinant, were used as model systems for the production of HoPS and HePS. Two well characterized strains carrying the gft gene were used for ß-glucan production, Pediococcus parvulus 2.6 (P. parvulus 2.6) isolated from cider, and the recombinant strain Lactococcus lactis NZ9000[pGTF] (L. lactis NZ9000[pGTF]). In addition, another cider isolate, Lactobacillus suebicus CUPV225 (L. suebicus CUPV225), and Leuconostoc mesenteroides RTF10 (L. mesenteroides RTF10), isolated from meat products were included in the study. Chemical analysis of the EPS revealed that L. mesenteroides produces a dextran, L. suebicus a complex heteropolysaccharide, and the ß-glucan producing-strains the expected 2-substituted (1,3)-ß-glucan.