Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are a heterogeneous family and they are associated with various plant and animalniches and play a key role in the production of fermented foods and beverages The lactic acid bacteria used in avariety of ways, including food production, health improvement and production of macromolecules, enzymesand metabolites. Species-to-species variation in the number of pseudogenes as well as genes directing nutrientuptake and metabolism reflects the adaptation of LAB to food matrices and the gastrointestinal tract. Genomicanalyses of multiple members of the lactic acid bacteria, at the genus, species, and strain level, have nowelucidated many genetic features that direct their fermentative and probiotic roles. This review is based on thegenomic content of LAB that is responsible for the functional and ecological diversity of these bacteria andhighlights some of the findings from these analyses in the context of the numerous roles the LAB play.
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