Weissella

Weissella is a genus of gram-positive bacteria placed within the family Lactobacillaceae, formerly considered species of the Leuconostoc paramesenteroides group. The morphology of Weissella species varies from spherical or lenticular cells to irregular rods. Several strains of Weissella cibaria and Weissella confusa have shown probiotic potential. In particular, the cell-free culture supernatant of Weissella confusa shows a number of beneficial characteristics, such as antibacterial potential and anti-inflammatory efficiency. 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. The Senate Commission on Food Safety has validated the use of W. confusa in food. The genus Weissella comprises the following species: Weissella beninensis Padonou et al. 2010 Weissella bombi Praet et al. 2015 Weissella ceti Vela et al. 2011 Weissella cibaria Björkroth et al. 2002 Weissella coleopterorum Hyun et al. 2021 Weissella confusa corrig. (Holzapfel and Kandler 1969) Collins et al. 1994 Weissella cryptocerci Heo et al. 2019 Weissella diestrammenae Oh et al. 2013 Weissella fabalis Snauwaert et al. 2013 Weissella fabaria De Bruyne et al. 2010 Weissella ghanensis De Bruyne et al. 2008 Weissella halotolerans (Kandler et al. 1983) Collins et al. 1994 Weissella hellenica Collins et al. 1994 Weissella kandleri (Holzapfel and van Wyk 1983) Collins et al. 1994 Weissella koreensis Lee et al. 2002 Weissella minor (Kandler et al. 1983) Collins et al. 1994 Weissella muntiaci Lin et al. 2020 Weissella oryzae Tohno et al. 2013 Weissella paramesenteroides (Garvie 1967) Collins et al. 1994 Weissella sagaensis Li et al. 2020 Weissella soli Magnusson et al. 2002 Weissella thailandensis Tanasupawat et al. 2000 Weissella uvarum Nisiotou et al. 2014 Weissella viridescens (Niven and Evans 1957) Collins et al. 1994 The currently accepted taxonomy is based on the List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature and the phylogeny is based on whole-genome sequences.