Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Isolation of Culturable Yeasts and Molds from Soils to Investigate Fungal Population Structure
Published on: May 27, 2022
Weissella ghanensis sp. nov., isolated from a Ghanaian cocoa fermentation
Katrien De Bruyne1, Nicholas Camu, Karen Lefebvre
1Laboratory of Microbiology and BCCM/LMG Bacteria Collection, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Abstract:
During a study on lactic acid bacteria (and their species diversity) in spontaneous heap fermentations of Ghanaian cocoa beans, two strains, designated 215(T) and 194B, were isolated. A phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences demonstrated that these strains represented a distinct lineage close to the genus Weissella and showing only 92.1 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with respect to their closest neighbour, Weissella soli LMG 20113(T). Whole-cell protein electrophoresis, fluorescent amplified fragment length polymorphism fingerprinting of whole genomes and physiological and biochemical tests confirmed the unique taxonomic position of the two novel isolates. On the basis of the results of the morphological and biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strains 215(T) and 194B represent the most peripheral lineage of the genus Weissella, for which we propose the name Weissella ghanensis sp. nov. The type strain is 215(T) (=LMG 24286(T)=DSM 19935(T)).
Related Concept Videos
Microbes in the Production of Fermented Foods
Microbes in Beverage Production
Production of Alcohol
Microbes in Food Production
Fungal Group Zygomycota
Fungal Phylum Ascomycota
