Pediococcus. This genus comprises 7 species of industrially important lactic acid bacteria that belong to the phylogenetic cluster formed by lactobacilli and leuconostocs. A distinctive characteristic of pediococci is their ability to form tetrads via cell division in two perpendicular directions in a single plane. Like other lactic acid bacteria, species of Pediococcus are acid tolerant, cannot synthesize porphyrins, and possess a strictly fermentative (homofermentative) facultatively anaerobic metabolism with lactic acid as the major metabolic end product. These bacteria occur on the surface of plants and fruits. In addition they actively multiply and become predominant microflora in fermenting plant materials such as silage, sauerkraut, olives, etc. They also occur in such food products as cured meat, raw sausages, and marinated fish, and are are used for biotechnological processing and preservation of foods.Pediococcus acidilactici. Pediococcus acidilactici is a member of the lactic acid bacteria. Some strains are used as starter cultures in fermented meat and vegetable products. Pediococcus acidilactici can be an opportunistic pathogen in humans.