Abstract
A shuttle vector, pSHvec, was constructed for Lactobacillus casei (L. casei) YIT 9018 and JM1O9 by recombinant DNA technology. This vector contained the $\beta$-lactamase II gene from Bacillus cereus as a selection marker and replication origins for both Gram(+) and Gram(-) strains. It could transform the wild type L. casei YIT 9018 as well as E. coli JM109 and transformed cells were selected based on antibiotics resistance. The ability of L. casei YIT 9018 for curd formation in 11% skim milk was maintained even after transformation with pSHvec. The vector was stable as long as antibiotics were added to the medium. These results could contribute to the study of lactic acid bacteria for the industrial purpose at a genetic level.