The second volume in the series The Lactic Acid Bacteria concentrates on the classification of the genera, which has undergone considerable change in recent years. This is the only comprehensive treatment available which deals exclusively with the genera of lactic acid bacteria and their classification. It will be an essential source of reference for dairy technologists, microbiologists and biotechnologists in the academic and industrial sectors. Each chapter includes discussion of the phylogentic position of the genus in question and its relationship to other genera of lactic acid bacteria, a description of the principal features which are characteristics of the genus, and descriptions of the species in the genus. In this volume a chapter is devoted to each of the principal genera of lactic acid bacteria which are now recognized.