Weissella[3] is a genus of gram-positive bacteria placed within the family Lactobacillaceae, formerly considered species of the Leuconostoc paramesenteroides group.[2] The morphology of Weissella species varies from spherical or lenticular cells to irregular rods.[citation needed] Several strains of Weissella cibaria and Weissella confusa have shown probiotic potential.[4] In particular, the cell-free culture supernatant of Weissella confusa shows a number of beneficial characteristics, such as antibacterial potential and anti-inflammatory efficiency.[5] However, several strains of W. confusa are opportunistic bacteria. A number of studies have been done on the safety of the bacterial species, indicating their probiotic potential.[6][7] The Senate Commission on Food Safety has validated the use of W. confusa in food.[8]
Weissella | |
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Lesions of Weissella confusa in the mona monkey (hematoxylin and eosin stain): A) liver: portal triads with neutrophilic infiltration (x10); A1, presence of bacterial emboli inside the vein (arrow) (x40). B) acute pneumonia: edema, congestion, and leukocyte cells exudation in the pulmonary alveoli (x10). C) encephalitis: congestion and marginalized neutrophils in nervous vessels (x10) | |
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Genus: | Weissella Collins et al. 1994[2]
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Type species | |
Weissella viridescens (Niven and Evans 1957) Collins et al. 1994[2]
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The genus Weissella comprises the following species:[9]
The currently accepted taxonomy is based on the List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature[9] and the phylogeny is based on whole-genome sequences.[1]
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