chapter 1 Lactic Acid Bacteria: Classification and Physiology -- chapter 2 Bifidobacteria and Probiotic Action -- chapter 3 An Update on Probiotic Bifidobacteria -- chapter 4 The Probiotic Potential of Propionibacteria -- chapter 5 Industrial Use and Production of Lactic Acid Bacteria -- chapter 6 The Genus Enterococcus: Biotechnological and Safety Issues -- chapter 7 Genetics of Lactic Acid Bacteria -- chapter 8 Bacteriophage and Antiphage Mechanisms of Lactic Acid Bacteria -- chapter 9 Mathematical Modeling of Intestinal Bacteria–Host Interactions -- chapter 10 Methods for Analyzing Gut Microbiota -- chapter 11 Antimicrobial Components from Lactic Acid Bacteria -- chapter 12 Lactic Acid Bacteria as a Tool for Enhancing Food Safety by Removal of Dietary Toxins -- chapter 13 Prebiotics and Lactic Acid Bacteria -- chapter 14 Lactic Acid Bacteria in Vegetable Fermentations -- chapter 15 Lactic Acid Bacteria in Cereal-Based Products -- chapter 16 Human Lactic Acid Microflora and Its Role in the Welfare of the Host -- chapter 17 Lactic Acid Bacteria and Intestinal Drug and Cholesterol Metabolism -- chapter 18 Human Studies on Probiotics: What is Scientifically Proven Today? -- chapter 19 Safety of Novel Probiotic Bacteria -- chapter 20 Lactic Acid Bacteria as Animal Probiotics -- chapter 21 Lactic Acid Bacteria in Fish and Fish Farming -- chapter 22 Future Directions of Research and Product Development of Lactic Acid Bacteria.