Lactobacillus is a genus of Gram-positive facultative anaerobic or microaerophilic bacteria. In humans, they are symbiotic and are found in the gut flora. Lactobacillus species are used for the production of yogurt, cheese, sauerkraut, pickles, beer, wine, cider, kimchi, chocolate, and other fermented foods, as well as animal feeds such as silage. In recent years, much interest has been shown in the use of lactobacilli as probiotic organisms and their potential for disease prevention in humans and animals. This major new work focuses on recent research on the molecular biology and genomics of Lactobacillus. Written by an international team of scientists, the volume is an essential reference for all dairy technologists, microbiologists, and biotechnologists in the academic and industrial sectors. Topics covered include phylogenetics, taxonomy, comparative genomics, functional genomics, the intestinal microflora, surface proteins, stress responses, interaction with the immune system, probiotics, anti-cancer potential, and much more. This is essential reading for all scientists involved with lactic acid bacteria or probiotic research and is recommended for all microbiology laboratories.

Despite the recent advances in medical treatment, patients suffering from wounds such as burns or receiving surgical implants are still in great danger of infection. This has called attention to the need for better understanding of infections at the molecular level. Scientists from various disciplines summarize our knowledge today and investigate how methods to avoid wound and biomaterial-associated infections can be developed. These methods include new antibiotics, surgical strategies to prevent infection, and ways to stimulate the immune system and the tissue healing process. Specific topics include: the definition of microbial cell surface determinants important for adhesion to graft; the definition of extracellular bacterial enzymes and toxins involved in tissue breakdown and the local spread of infection; the prevention of the systemic spreading of infection with immunoglobulins and antibiotics; and the problem of multiple antibiotic resistance in most versatile pathogens.