Description
Pediococcus is a genus of Gram-positive lactic acid bacteria, belonging to the family of Lactobacillacea. The genus Pediococcus consists of the following species: P. acidilactici, P. pentosaceus, P. damnosus, P. parvulus, P. inopinatus, P. halophilus, P. dextrinicus, and P. urinaeequi. Pediococcus spp. cells are spherical and arranged in tetrads. They are facultative anaerobes, non motile and non sporulating. The known pediocins from P. acidilactici, P. pentosaceus and P. damnosus strains are mostly small, hydrophobic proteins. Food application of pediocins can provide a good alternative means in protecting food against foodborne pathogens. Being mild antimicrobials, pediocins are also expected in the future to find more applications in both human and veterinary medicine. P. pentosaceus, a promising strain of lactic acid bacteria; LAB, is gradually attracting attention, leading to a rapid increase in experimental research.