Abstract
Lactobacilli are regarded as one of the most important organisms for food microbiology and for human health. The genus Lactobacillus consists of more than 100 species, and so the genus is phylogenetically and phenotypically diverse. A number of reviews addressed the phylogenetic relationships of species within the genus Lactobacillus and listed key characteristics for each species. However, in recent years, approximately 10 novel species have been described per annum in the genus Lactobacillus , and thus the updated phylogenetic tree is always valuable. In addition, some of lactobacilli have atypical characteristics. In this review, atypical characteristics of some species in the genus Lactobacillus are discussed. An updated phylogenetic tree, showing the relationships within Lactobacillus spp. is provided.
