Lactic Acid Bacteria in Wine: Technological Advances and Evaluation of Their Functional Role.

Currently, the main role of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) in wine is to conduct the malolactic fermentation (MLF). This process can increase wine aroma and mouthfeel, improve microbial stability and reduce the acidity of wine. A growing number of studies support the appreciation that LAB can also significantly, positively and negatively, contribute to the sensorial profile of wine through many different enzymatic pathways.

Oenococcus oeni and the genomic era.

Oenococcus oeni is the main lactic acid bacteria species associated with grapes and wine. It is a bacterium that has adapted itself to the harsh conditions of wine, and demonstrated its importance in the production of quality wines. It has a small genome (1.

Whole transcriptome RNAseq analysis of Oenococcus oeni reveals distinct intra-specific expression patterns during malolactic fermentation, including genes involved in diacetyl metabolism.

We report the first whole transcriptome RNAseq analysis of the wine-associated lactic acid bacterium Oenococcus oeni using a combination of reference-based mapping and de novo transcript assembly in three distinct strains during malolactic fermentation in Cabernet Sauvignon wine. Two of the strains (AWRIB551 and AWRIB552) exhibited similar transcriptomes relative to the third strain (AWRIB419) which was dissimilar by comparison. Significant intra-specific variation for genes related to glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, purine metabolism, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, ABC transporters and phosphotransferase systems was observed.

Linking wine lactic acid bacteria diversity with wine aroma and flavour.

In the last two decades knowledge on lactic acid bacteria (LAB) associated with wine has increased considerably. Investigations on genetic and biochemistry of species involved in malolactic fermentation, such as Oenococcus oeni and of Lactobacillus have enabled a better understand of their role in aroma modification and microbial stability of wine. In particular, the use of molecular techniques has provided evidence on the high diversity at species and strain level, thus improving the knowledge on wine LAB taxonomy and ecology.

Acetic acid bacteria isolated from grapes of South Australian vineyards.

Acetic acid bacteria (AAB) diversity from healthy, mould-infected and rot-affected grapes collected from three vineyards of Adelaide Hills (South Australia) was analyzed by molecular typing and identification methods. Nine different AAB species were identified from the 624 isolates recovered: Four species from Gluconobacter genus, two from Asaia and one from Acetobacter were identified by the analysis of 16S rRNA gene and 16S-23S rRNA gene internal transcribed spacer. However, the identification of other isolates that were assigned as Asaia sp.