Lactic Acid Bacteria as a Source of Exopolysaccharides With Important Industrial Applications

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are high-molecular-weight extracellular metabolites secreted by various bacteria, including lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which participate in the cellular energy metabolism and support their adaptation to stress conditions. LAB produces a wide variety of EPS, which are primarily classified according to their location in the cell and sugar composition. The main EPS bioproducers are representatives of the genera Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Leuconostoc, Weissella and Streptococcus. The number of EPS produced varies among different bacterial species, as cultivation conditions and the composition of the medium are crucial for their yield. In addition to improving the rheological and organoleptic properties of foods, LAB EPS also exhibit several health-promoting activities, such as prebiotic, antioxidant, antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effects. Owing to their structural diversity and functionality, LAB EPS are widely used in the food, biotechnology and medical industries, with considerable potential for expanding their applications. This review aims to summarize the current research state on EPS produced by LAB, focusing on their structure, classification, biosynthetic pathways, safety profile as well as their potential applications in practice.