Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) constitute a heterogeneous group of bacteria that are renowned for the crucial role they play in the health of humans and animals. While some LAB are food-related and probiotic, remaining harmless and at times even conferring health benefits to the consumer, others are host-associated and include some of the most severe human and veterinary pathogens.

Due to their economic importance for the food industry and their health-related implications as probiotics or pathogens, the genetics, physiology and metabolism of LAB have been under rigorous investigation over the past decades. During food processing and storage, LAB reside under adverse environmental conditions designed to be bacteriostatic or bactericidal for food spoilage microorganisms and foodborne pathogens. In addition, during consumption, the key feature of probiotic strains is their aptitude to survive through the harsh environment of the gastrointestinal tract of the host so as to reach and colonize the intestine and exert their health-promoting effects. Furthermore, the pathogenic nature of certain LAB species has been clearly associated with their tolerance to environmental stresses.

Organized into 5 parts, this book discusses the current knowledge of the stress physiology of LAB. Part I provides an introductory overview of the stress responses of LAB; Part II focuses on the responses of LAB towards specific environmental stresses; Part III presents the stress responses of LAB in the context of species and genera; Part IV discusses the applications and the future aspects of LAB stress research; and Part V highlights in a concluding summary the most important research challenges in the field that will significantly improve our conception of stress behavior in LAB.

Autorentext

Effie Tsakalidou (PhD) is a Professor of Food Biochemistry at the Agricultural University of Athens in Athens, Greece.

Konstantinos Papadimitriou (PhD) is a Research Associate in the Laboratory of Dairy Research at the Agricultural University of Athens in Athens, Greece.

Zusammenfassung

Beginning with the basics of lactic acid bacteria and stress response, then working into specific fields of research and current developments, Stress Responses of Lactic Acid Bacteria will serve as an essential guidebook to researchers in the field, industry professionals, and advanced students in the area.

The exploration of stress responses in lactic acid bacteria began in the early 90s and revealed the differences that exist between LAB and the classical model microorganisms. A considerable amount of work has been performed on the main genera / species of LAB regarding the genes implicated and their actual role and regulation, and the mechanisms of stress resistance have also been elucidated. Recent genome and transcriptome analyses complement the proteome and genetic information available today and shed a new light on the perception of and the responses to stress by lactic acid bacteria.

Inhalt

Part I. Introduction.- 1. The importance of understanding the stress physiology of lactic acid bacteria.- Part II. Responses of lactic acid bacteria towards specific environmental stresses.- 2. Responses of lactic acid bacteria to acid stress.- 3. Responses of lactic acid bacteria to heat stress.- 4. Responses of lactic acid bacteria to osmotic stress.- 5. Responses of lactic acid bacteria to cold stress.- 6. Responses of lactic acid bacteria to oxidative stress.- 7. Responses of lactic acid bacteria to starvation.- 8. Responses of lactic acid bacteria to cell envelope stresses.- 9. Responses of lactic acid bacteria to heavy metal stress.- Part III. Stress responses of lactic acid bacteria in the context of species or genera.- 10. Stress responses of Lactococcus lactis.- 11. Stress responses of lactobacilli.- 12. Stress responses of streptococci.- 13. Stress responses of enterococci.- 14. Stress responses of bifidobacteria.- 15. Stress responses of Oenococcus oeni.- Part IV. Current applications and future aspects.- 16. Engineering robust lactic acid bacteria.- 17. Improving stress tolerance of probiotic cultures: Recent trends and future directions.- 18. Responses of lactic acid bacteria to bacteriocins and other antimicrobials.- 19. Lactic acid bacteria defences against phages.- 20. Storing lactic acid bacteria: current methodologies and physiological implications.- Part V. Conclusion.- 21. Future challenges in lactic acid bacteria stress physiology research.