The Lactic Acid Bacteria Genomics Consortium
A group of scientists have established the Lactic Acid Bacteria Genomics Consortium to study what makes these group of bugs tick, and based on that to later be able to tweak them to come up with more efficient fermentation processes for wine and foods, shorter ripening times for cheeses, more diverse and better-tasting foods, and more economical processing methods.
Just how important lactic acid bacteria are?
Lactic acid bacteria have a number of functions: they occur naturally in the gut of people and animals, providing beneficial effects; they are used to ferment beverages and food, but they also can spoil food. Long before refrigeration, canning processes, or plastic wrapping materials, people relied on fermentation as a method of preserving food. Today, such fermentations with lactic acid bacteria are carried out in a more controlled fashion, not only to preserve foods but to alter the flavors in many desirable ways.
Most likely, you are already consuming LAB-products and already benefiting from the efforts of these minute beings. By understanding the genetic makeup of these microorganisms, scientists hope to harness them to make even better-tasting and healthier food products.
Source: UC Davis
Tags: diet, functional-food, genomics, health, health-food, Healthy Eating, healthy-diet, lactic-acid-bacteria, nutraceuticals, nutrition, probioticsRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Food Talk, Healthy Eating
0 opinions for The Lactic Acid Bacteria Genomics Consortium
No one has left a comment yet. You know what this means, right? You could be first!
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: