Genomics of Oenococcus oeni and other lactic acid bacteria

Abstract

Lactic acid bacteria are commonly found in wine and winery environments. Recently genome sequences for Oenococcus oeni, and several other lactic acid bacteria found in wine, have been generated. This aggregate sequence has provided a wealth of information on the biology of these microorganisms and is dramatically changing research strategies aimed at understanding their physiology in the wine and winery environments. Comparative genomics has revealed common genes among the lactic acid bacteria and helped better determine the evolution of the clade. Moreover, sequence analysis enables predictions of the key metabolic pathways for O. oeni, the main malolactic starter culture used in winemaking. The wealth of genome sequence for wine-related lactic acid bacteria has ushered in a new era in which questions on the basic interaction of these microbes in the context of wine production can be studied in a global fashion using various "omics" approaches. © 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. All rights reserved.