-Qualitative aspect of proteolytic activity of thermophilic lactobacilli using in Swiss cheeses. The average peptidic pattern was established from 253 French Emmental cheeses sampled in 50 factories. It contained 53 peptidic peaks, 4 of which were the most important in quantity. Two Lactobacillus helveticus strains and five Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. lactis strains were tested in Emmental experimental cheesemaking in association with three different propionic strains (21 cheeses). The Propionibacterium freudenreichii strains did not affect the peptidic pattern of ripened Emmental cheese. On the other hand, 13 peptidic peaks were significantly influenced by the thermophilic lactobacilli strain. The two species of thermophilic lactobacilli were discriminated by three peptidic peaks. Seven peptidic peaks were correlated with the ammonia amount in ripened Emmental cheese. No significant correlation was found between peptidic peaks and SN/TN and NPN/TN. At the same time, the peptidic pattern produced by the seven lactobacilli strains were studied in laboratory. The most specific peptidic peak of the French Emmental cheese were not found by using the Hammarsten casein as substrate. Another substrate, similar to hard cooked cheeses, lyophilized and sterilized by ionisation was tested. This substrate was obtained with microfiltered milk and Streptococcus thermophilus strains only. This substrate digested by thermophilic lactobacilli allowed to find the specific peptidic peaks of the French Emmental cheese. For example, the 14th peak obtained in laboratory was significantly different according to lactobacilli species, as it was observed in the Emmental cheese experiments. This peak distinguished the strains inside the Lb. delbrueckii ssp. lactis too.