Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are a diverse group of bacteria that comprise low GC content Gram-positive cocci or rods that produces lactic acid as the major end product of the fermentation process. Bifidobacterium genera may also be considered as a part of the LAB group for possessing some similar phenotypical characteristics despite the higher GC content. The key feature of LAB metabolism is efficient carbohydrate fermentation. This contributes to the production of several microbial metabolites that result in the improvement of flavor and texture of fermented foods, in addition to its positive impact on the human health when LAB is administered as a probiotic. The book deals with advances made in the functionalities of LAB, such as their effect on vitamin D receptor expression, impact on neurodegenerative pathologies, production of B-vitamins for food bio-enrichment, production of bacteriocins to improve gut microbiota dysbiosis, production of metabolites from polyphenols and their effects on human health, effect on reducing the immunoreaction of food allergens, as biological system using time-temperature to improve food safety, and the use of probiotics in animal feed. The book also reviews the use of LAB and probiotic technologies to develop new functional foods and functional pharmaceuticals.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are a diverse group of bacteria that comprise low GC content Gram-positive cocci or rods that produces lactic acid as the major end product of the fermentation process. Bifidobacterium genera may also be considered as a part of the LAB group for possessing some similar phenotypical characteristics despite the higher GC content. The key feature of LAB metabolism is efficient carbohydrate fermentation. This contributes to the production of several microbial metabolites that result in the improvement of flavor and texture of fermented foods, in addition to its positive impact on the human health when LAB is administered as a probiotic. The book deals with advances made in the functionalities of LAB, such as their effect on vitamin D receptor expression, impact on neurodegenerative pathologies, production of B-vitamins for food bio-enrichment, production of bacteriocins to improve gut microbiota dysbiosis, production of metabolites from polyphenols and their effects on human health, effect on reducing the immunoreaction of food allergens, as biological system using time-temperature to improve food safety, and the use of probiotics in animal feed. The book also reviews the use of LAB and probiotic technologies to develop new functional foods and functional pharmaceuticals.

Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) are a heterologous group of microorganisms that have been isolated from numerous ecological niches, including fermented foods, plants, and the gastrointestinal tract of animals. Because of their "generally regarded as safe" status (GRAS), there has been great interest in using these microorganisms in food production, as probiotic microorganisms or as biotechnological tools. This book describes some of the many benefits of LAB including i) their use in foods where advances in the fight against spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms in foods, their thermotolerance, their microencapsulation, and responses to osmotic challenges will be discussed; ii) their capacity to produce beneficial compounds including bioactive peptides, biosurfactants, gamma-aminobutyric acid, and antimicrobial products such as organic acids, hydrogen peroxide, bacteriocins, and peptidoglycan hydrolases; and iii) their effect on health and other applications such as their use as a DNA vaccine delivery system, bile-salt hydrolase, and exopolysaccharides production as well as the use of spore forming LAB. This new book is a compilation of topics that have been written by experts from all over the world (Argentina, Brazil, Greece, Mexico, and Thailand) who work in different research settings offering varying viewpoints on the most up-to-date information currently available on the uses and many benefits of Lactic Acid Bacteria.

Crohn's Disease (CD) is one of the most important chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) that can affect the whole gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus and whose inflammation extends through all layers of the gut wall. Treatments normally consist of controlling the symptoms, maintaining remission, and preventing relapse. Despite many years of study, the exact aetiology and pathogenesis of this disorder still remains unclear; however, great advances have been made in the last decades and have provided insights into the complex, multi-factorial processes and mechanisms that can result in chronic intestinal inflammation such as those present in Crohn's Disease. This book will describe etiological factors (host-microbiome interactions, nutrition, immune system, genetic and life-styles), novel and conventional diagnostic tools (magnetic resonance enterography, multidetector contrast-enhanced computed tomography, small bowel magnetic resonance imaging, intestinal ultrasound, endoscopy and histology), complications (musculo-skeletal, and intra-abdominal) along with conventional and novel treatment options (strictureplasty techniques, use of biological agents, probiotic micro-organisms and genetically engineered lactic acid bacteria) for CD and other IBD. This new book is a compilation of topics that have been written by experts from all over the world (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, France, Hungary, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States of America) who work in medical, clinical or research settings offering different viewpoints on the most up-to-date information currently available on Crohn's Disease.