Antisera prepared against two isologous malic enzymes from Lactobacillus casei strains 64H and M40 were used to survey and categorize the various malic enzymes found within this diverse species. In addition to detecting three major antigenic variants of malic enzyme within this group, both antisera readily reacted with Streptococcus faecalis malic enzyme. The cross-reactions between the L. casei malic enzyme antisera and the S. faecalis malic enzyme indicated that these iso-functional enzymes found in two apparently diverse groups of organisms were immunologically homologous. A scheme proposing a common ancestry for the two species S. faecalis and L. casei based on the results of quantitative immunological studies is presented.