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in: Reference Module in Food Science , Paul McSweeney,John McNamara, Editor, Elsevier Science, Oxford/Amsterdam , Amsterdam, pp.91-95, 2020
Lactobacillus acidophilus is one of the best well-known species of the genus Lactobacillus in lactic acid bacteria (LAB) group and exists in the gastrointestinal tract and vagina of humans and animals. Lb. acidophilus produces antimicrobial compounds, including organic acids, hydrogen proxides, diacetyl, ammonia, carbon dioxide, ethanol and bacteriocins. Many strains of the genus Lactobacillus are generally accepted as human probiotics. Thus, different commercially products are inoculated with Lb. acidophilus strains. This chapter includes history, growth conditions, identification and characterization, properties and health benefits of Lb. acidophilus.