Abstract
Because a phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences was adapted to the bacterial taxonomy in the 1990s, the phylogenetic relationship of lactic acid bacteria has been revealed.Most of the species and the genera, which have been regarded as lactic acid bacteria, are belonging to the order Lactobacillales. This order consists of six families and 33 genera in 2009. Within this order, many of newly isolated genera and the genera transferred from the previously described genera are included. Here, I review historical transition of taxonomic position of lactic acid bacteria, and give an outline of the characteristics of the two families, Carnobacteriaceae and Aerococcaceae, which are composed of many of newly isolated genera.
