Update on taxonomy and identification methods of lactic acid bacteria and recent studies toward a reclassification of the genus Lactobacillus

Abstract

Because of the safety and functionality, lactic acid bacteria have been intensively studied for purposes of industrial application, especially in probiotics field. Taxonomy and identification of the organisms were received poor attention during the last two decades. However, scientific names of “beneficial strains” are essential for proper use in food and feed, meaning that taxonomy and identification are also part of researches of the “beneficial strains”. This article reviews change of identification methods and taxonomy of lactic acid bacteria. Recent studies for proposal of reclassification of the genus Lactobacillus are introduced.