TECHNOLOGICAL AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF DAIRY STARTER CULTURES

Lactic acid bacteria are the focus of research efforts world-wide beca use of their central role in commercially important dairy fermentation s. Significant advances have been made in elucidating the genetic, bio chemical and physiological basis of many of the key technological trai ts of these bacteria. This review examines the recent progress that ha s been made in the areas of bacteriophage resistance, bacteriocins, pr oteolysis and carbohydrate metabolism, in the light of their industria l applications. In addition, the increasingly important role of lactic acid bacteria in the production of probiotic products and their poten tial as vaccine delivery vehicles are discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd. All rights reserved.