Fructophilic Bacteria in Food: Physiology and Promising Biotechnological Horizons

Fructophilic lactic acid bacteria (FLAB) are a recently identified group within the LAB family, encompassing species from the Fructobacillus and Lactobacillus genera. They are distinguished by a strong preference for fructose over glucose and an unusual tolerance for oxygen, setting them apart as “unconventional” LAB. Despite their ecological relevance in fructose-rich environments such as fruits, nectar, honey, and fermented foods, FLAB remain poorly characterised. Published work has been limited largely to a handful of Fructobacillus species (F. fructosus, F. durionis, F. ficulneus, and F. pseudoficulneus), and their underrepresentation in the literature is likely a methodological artefact: most conventional LAB isolation media contain glucose rather than fructose as the primary substrate, inadvertently selecting against FLAB. Dedicated fructose-based isolation strategies are therefore needed to begin mapping the true diversity of this group.The primary aim of this Research Topic is to investigate the probiotic potential of FLAB, positioning fructophilic probiotics as a promising new direction within the broader field of probiotic science. Traditional probiotic research has focused predominantly on well-established genera such as Lactobacillus and, separately, Bifidobacterium (which, while commonly grouped with LAB in probiotic contexts, belongs to the phylum Actinomycetota and uses a distinct fermentation pathway). These organisms are typically selected for their ability to survive gastrointestinal conditions, adhere to intestinal epithelium, and modulate the gut microbiota and immune system. FLAB, by contrast, possess a fructose-driven metabolism and distinct ecological adaptations that may translate into specialised functional benefits not addressed by current probiotic strains, particularly in the context of fructose metabolism and diet-related metabolic health. Just as advances in selective culturing and molecular tools expanded the utility of conventional probiotics, targeted isolation strategies and modern omics approaches now offer a route to unlocking the probiotic capabilities of FLAB.This Research Topic therefore brings together fundamental microbiology and applied probiotic science to characterise FLAB from isolation through to functional and clinical evaluation. Contributors are invited to address, but are not confined to, the following themes:A) Isolation and Cultivation Strategies i) Development of selective fructose-based media for the effective isolation of FLAB ii) Optimisation of growth conditions and enrichment techniquesB) Diversity and Ecology of FLAB i) Examination of FLAB in fructose-rich environments (fruits, nectar, honey, fermented foods) ii) Discovery and classification of novel speciesC) Genomic and Functional Characterisation i) Genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic profiling ii) Mechanisms of fructose metabolism and adaptationD) Probiotic Potential and Mechanisms of Action i) Assessment of probiotic traits (acid and bile tolerance, adhesion, antimicrobial activity) ii) Interaction with host gut microbiota and immune modulation iii) Role in fructose metabolism and implications for metabolic healthE) Comparison with Conventional Probiotics i) Functional and physiological differences between FLAB and traditional probiotic strains ii) Synergistic or complementary effects in mixed probiotic formulationsF) Applications in Food and Biotechnology i) Use of FLAB in functional foods, fermented products, and nutraceuticals ii) Stability, viability, and formulation challengesG) Safety, Regulation, and Clinical Potential i) Safety assessment and toxicological studies ii) Preclinical and clinical evaluation of fructophilic probioticsTopic Editor Dr. Shamkant B. Badgujar is employed at Tulip Diagnostics Private Limited, Verna, Goa, India, and Topic Editor Dr. Jayesh Jagannath Ahire is employed by Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Hyderabad, India. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject. Topic editors: Shamkant B. Badgujar, Guiomar Melgar-Lalanne, Guadalupe Virginia Nevárez-Moorillón, Jayesh Jagannath Ahire Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80982/fructophilic-bacteria-in-food-physiology-and-promising-biotechnological-horizons