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One of the defining biochemical differences between ''O. kitaharae'' and ''O. oeni'' that was noted in its original isolation was the ability of ''O. kitaharae'' to produce acid from maltose. This trait is rare in ''O. oeni'', which is formally classified as maltose negative. By comparing available whole-genome annotations for ''O. oeni'' with ''O. kitaharae'', it was possible to identify several genes associated with sugar utilization that are deferentially present across the species. Of these, at least four genes which are present in ''O. kitaharae'', but absent in the ''O. oeni'' genomes, are predicted to be involved in the utilization of maltose, providing a direct genetic basis for this phenotype. In addition to genes predicted to be involved in the species-specific utilization of maltose, there are several [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_reading_frame ORFs] predicted to be involved in the metabolism of trehalose, D-gluconate, D-ribose and fructose that are specifically present in ''O. kitaharae''. While the assimilation of these sugars is often carried out by specific strains of ''O. oeni'', this genotypic data agrees well with biochemical tests performed previously that indicated that ''O. kitaharae'' was able to utilize all of these various carbon sources. <ref name="link">[http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/authors?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0029626 . Functional Divergence in the Genus Oenococcus as Predicted by Genome Sequencing of the Newly-Described Species, Oenococcus kitaharae, Authors Anthony R. Borneman, Jane M. McCarthy, Paul J. Chambers, Eveline J. Bartowsky 01/3/2012 .]</ref>

''Oenococcus oeni''(also know as ''Leuconostoc oeni'') is a Genus of Gram-positive LAB, ellipsoidal to spherical in shape that is primarily used in Malolactic Fermentation. ''Oenococcus oeni'' is a facultative anaerobe. It is able to use oxygen for cellular respiration but can also gain energy through fermentation. It characteristically grows well in the environments of wine, being able to survive in acidic conditions below pH 3.0 and tolerant of ethanol levels above 10%. Optimal growth occurs on sugar and protein rich media. Cells tend to grow in chains or pairs. ''O. Oeni'' is heterofermentative and generally produces CO2, Ethanol, Acetate, and Diacetyl. <ref name="MicrobeWikiOO">[https://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Oenococcus_oeni "Oenococcus oeni". Microbe Wiki. Retrieved 07/20/2017.]</ref>