Lactobacillus is a highly phylogenetically and metabolically diverse genus comprising more than 200 species. As food-grade microorganisms, lactobacilli have long been exploited in the feed, food and beverage industries, with applications ranging from extending the shelf-life of food products to their use as probiotics with health-promoting properties. In addition lactobacilli are also important producers of industrial chemicals such as lactic acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid.
The considerable commercial importance has stimulated a plethora of research projects studying the genomics, molecular biology and metabolic engineering of these bacteria and prompted the need for this concise book which provides a timely overview of the field. Topics covered include: the genomic perspective on niche adaptability; catabolic pathways of complex carbohydrates metabolism; the production of lactate; genetics, biology of the cell envelope and applications of the S-layer proteins; lactobacilli bacteriophage; DNA transfer into Lactobacillusspecies; recombinant gene expression and genomics of antibiotic resistance in Lactobacillus.
To survey the most relevant aspects of the more than 200 recognized species of the Lactobacillus genus of bacteria, scientists take comparative genomic approaches to evaluate strains or species found in different niches and offer insight into niche adaptation within the genus. Their topics include genetics and genomics of Lactobacillus sakei and Lactobacillus curvatur, complex oligosaccharide utilization pathways in Lactobacillus, modifications of the Lactobacillus surface under environmental stress conditions, bacteriophages of Lactobacillus species, and a genomic overview of acquired antibiotic resistance mechanisms in Lactobacillus. Distributed in the US by Ingram Content Group. Annotation ©2018 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)
