AUTHOR=Fusco Vincenzina , Chieffi Daniele , Fanelli Francesca , Montemurro Marco , Rizzello Carlo Giuseppe , Franz Charles M. A. P. 

TITLE=The Weissella and Periweissella genera: up-to-date taxonomy, ecology, safety, biotechnological, and probiotic potential

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1289937

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2023.1289937

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Bacteria belonging to the genera <italic>Weissella</italic> and <italic>Periweissella</italic> are lactic acid bacteria, which emerged in the last decades for their probiotic and biotechnological potential. In 2015, an article reviewing the scientific literature till that date on the taxonomy, ecology, and biotechnological potential of the <italic>Weissella</italic> genus was published. Since then, the number of studies on this genus has increased enormously, several novel species have been discovered, the taxonomy of the genus underwent changes and new insights into the safety, and biotechnological and probiotic potential of weissellas and periweissellas could be gained. Here, we provide an updated overview (from 2015 until today) of the taxonomy, ecology, safety, biotechnological, and probiotic potential of these lactic acid bacteria.</p>