Abstract
The members of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are gram-positive bacteria which have low G+C DNA in their gemones. Genus Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Enterococcusbelong to LAB and have been well characterized by microbiological and molecular biological studies. Their chromosomes and their genetic elements such as bacteriophages, plasmids, insertion sequences and transposons can be used as genetic resources of LAB. The completion of whole genome sequence of Lactococcus lactis strain IL1403 will become a major and important step toward opening new possibilities for the development of unused or unknown genes located on its chromosome and those of other related LAB. Many useful genes have also been found on bacteriophages and plasmids: Especially, many genes for resistance against bacteriophages, of which contamination result in serious damage to the dairy and silage-making fermentations, have been identified. Some of these genetic information and application have been granted patents for phage defense. Here, we introduce some genetic resources of LAB, and consider the prospect of their application, possibilities, importance and usefulness for the next century.
