title: The potential of lactic acid bacteria to colonize biotic and abiotic surfaces and the investigation of their interactions and mechanisms.
abstract: Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are a heterogeneous group of Gram-positive bacteria that comprise several species which have evolved in close association with humans (food and lifestyle). While their use to ferment food dates back to very ancient times, in the last decades, LAB have attracted much attention for their documented beneficial properties and for potential biomedical applications. Some LAB are commensal that colonize, stably or transiently, host mucosal surfaces, inlcuding the gut, where they may contribute to host health. In this review, we present and discuss the main factors enabling LAB adaptation to such lifestyle, including the gene reprogramming accompanying gut colonization, the specific bacterial components involved in adhesion and interaction with host, and how the gut niche has shaped the genome of intestine-adapted species. Moreover, the capacity of LAB to colonize abiotic surfaces by forming structured communities, i.e., biofilms, is briefly discussed, taking into account the main bacterial and environmental factors involved, particularly in relation to food-related environments. The vast spread of LAB surface-associated communities and the ability to control their occurrence hold great potentials for human health and food safety biotechnologies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment Sciences, University of Foggia, via Napoli 25, 71122, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Mattia Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Arena
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment Sciences, University of Foggia, via Napoli 25, 71122, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Capozzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment Sciences, University of Foggia, via Napoli 25, 71122, Foggia, Italy. giuseppe.spano@unifg.it.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spano
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Viale Pinto 1, 71122, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fiocco
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome; D056084:Genetic Fitness; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D007777:Lactobacillaceae / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D019936:Probiotics; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid
keywords: Biofilm; Biotic and abiotic surfaces; Lactic acid bacteria; Probiotics