Lactic acid bacteria (also referred to as LAB) is a large group of gram-positive bacteria commonly known for their role in several fermentation processes. For this reason, LAB have been used for many different applications in both food and non-food sectors. They are one of the main and most commonly used probiotics and their beneficial effects on several health benefits have been shown over the years. Whereas in some situation the LAB are associated with improvement of human and animal health (gut, skin), in other cases they can are also associated with negative aspects such as the onset of dental plaques in the oral cavity.

Related terms