Acetic Acid Bacteria in the Food Industry: Systematics, Characteristics and Applications

• Published in: Food technology and biotechnology Vol. 56; no. 2; pp. 139 - 151
• Main Authors: Gomes, Rodrigo José, Borges, Maria de Fátima, Rosa, Morsyleide de Freitas, Castro-Gómez, Raúl Jorge Hernan, Spinosa, Wilma Aparecida
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Croatia Sveuciliste U Zagrebu 01.04.2018; Sveuciliste u Zagrebu, Prehramheno-Biotehnoloski Fakultet; University of Zagreb Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology
• Subjects: Acetic acid; Acetic acid bacteria; Acids; Bacteria; bacterial cellulose; Beer; Beverages; biotechnological products; Biotechnology; Carbon; Cellulose; Chemical properties; Cider; Classification; Ethanol; Fermented food; Food; Food industry; Food processing industry; Genera; Genomes; Gluconic acid; Glycerol; Gram-negative bacteria; Identification methods; Management; Microbial colonies; Morphology; Physical characteristics; Physiology; Reviews; Sorbose; Sour taste; Systematics; Taxonomy; Vinegar; Wine; Wines; acetic acid bacteria; taxonomy; biotechnological products; bacterial cellulose; vinegar
• DOI: 10.17113/ftb.56.02.18.5593
• ISSN: 1330-9862

The group of Gram-negative bacteria capable of oxidising ethanol to acetic acid is called acetic acid bacteria (AAB). They are widespread in nature and play an important role in the production of food and beverages, such as vinegar and kombucha. The ability to oxidise ethanol to acetic acid also allows the unwanted growth of AAB in other fermented beverages, such as wine, cider, beer and functional and soft beverages, causing an undesirable sour taste. These bacteria are also used in the production of other metabolic products, for example, gluconic acid, l-sorbose and bacterial cellulose, with potential applications in the food and biomedical industries. The classification of AAB into distinct genera has undergone several modifications over the last years, based on morphological, physiological and genetic characteristics. Therefore, this review focuses on the history of taxonomy, biochemical aspects and methods of isolation, identification and quantification of AAB, mainly related to those with important biotechnological applications.