Molecular Tools to Exploit the Biotechnological Potential of Brettanomyces bruxellensis: A Review

Abstract

The Brettanomyces bruxellensis species plays various roles in both the industrial and food sectors. At the biotechnological level, B. bruxellensis is considered to be a promising species for biofuel production. Its presence in alcoholic beverages can be detrimental or beneficial to the final product; B. bruxellensis can contribute to spoilage of wine and beer, but can also produce good aromas. However, little is known about its genetic characteristics and, despite the complete sequencing of several B. bruxellensis genomes and knowledge of its metabolic pathways, the toolkits for its efficient and easy genetic modification are still underdeveloped. Moreover, the different ploidy states and the high level of genotype diversity within this species makes the development of effective genetic manipulation tools challenging. This review summarizes the available tools for the genetic manipulation of B. bruxellensis and how they may be employed to improve the quality of wine and beer.