The last decade has seen an explosive increase in the volume of research on and knowledge of lactic acid bacteria, organisms of prime importance for the production of dairy products and the fermentation of various vegetables. This issue of Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, written by international experts in the field, documents these recent exciting developments with respect to genetics, metabolism and application of lactic acid bacteria for industrial and potential medical applications. This book is essential for all researchers with an interest in the fundamental biology of Gram-positive bacteria, in particular in lactic acid bacteria and their applications, not only as a source of reference but also as an indispensable source of information for further development and exploration of this field.