foods Review Current Trends of Enterococci in Dairy Products: A Comprehensive Review of Their Multiple Roles Maria de Lurdes Enes Dapkevicius 1,2,* , Bruna Sgardioli 1,2 , Sandra P. A. Câmara 1,2, Patrícia Poeta 3,4 and Francisco Xavier Malcata 5,6,* 1 Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of the Azores, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal;
[email protected] (B.S.);
[email protected] (S.P.A.C.) 2 Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research and Technology (IITAA), University of the Azores, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal 3 Microbiology and Antibiotic Resistance Team (MicroART), Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal;
[email protected] 4 Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry (LAQV-REQUIMTE), University NOVA of Lisboa, 2829-516 Lisboa, Portugal 5 LEPABE—Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 420-465 Porto, Portugal 6 FEUP—Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal * Correspondence:
[email protected] (M.d.L.E.D.);
[email protected] (F.X.M.) Abstract: As a genus that has evolved for resistance against adverse environmental factors and that readily exchanges genetic elements, enterococci are well adapted to the cheese environment and may reach high numbers in artisanal cheeses. Their metabolites impact cheese flavor, texture, Citation: Dapkevicius, M.d.L.E.; and rheological properties, thus contributing to the development of its typical sensorial properties. Sgardioli, B.; Câmara, S.P.A.; Poeta, P.; Due to their antimicrobial activity, enterococci modulate the cheese microbiota, stimulate autoly- Malcata, F.X.