Genetics of Lactic Acid Bacteria

The early genetic research on lactic acid bacteria (LAB) was dominated by studies on plasmid-associated phenomena, especially in lactococci. Recent advances in the genomics of LAB have opened novel insights into both the evolutionary aspect of LAB and the genetic basis of their important metabolic functions. This will undoubtedly lead to an increased understanding of the role of LAB in different food applications as well as in probiotic action. While a comprehensive review of all recent findings is outside the scope of this chapter, we hope to provide the reader with an overview of the interplay between the genetics and physiology of LAB that is starting to emerge.