Lactobacilli are normal inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tract of man and animals where they are widely considered to exert a number of beneficial roles including immunomodulation, interference with enteric pathogens, and maintenance of a healthy intestinal microflora. Historically, probiotic roles have been ascribed primarily to Lactobacillus acidophilus. The genus Lactobacillus presently comprises more than 50 recognized species of non-pathogenic bacteria which in addition to their probiotic effects are useful to human as indispensable agents for the fermentation of foods and feed. Lactobacillus amylovorus (strain GRL 1118) is an anaerobic, nonmotile, non-spore-forming, and rod-shaped Gram-positive bacterium isolated from porcine ileum and which shows strong adherence to pig intestinal epithelial cells. L. amylovorus is an abundant Lactobacillus species found in the intestines of piglets that has exhibited several potential probiotic properties, such as antimicrobial activity against enteric pathogens. It shows features typical of homofermentative Lactobacillus species, like the production of large quantities of lactic acid and small amounts of acetic acid but no gas from glucose. It requires a number of vitamins for growth. L. amylovorus is one of the dominant S-layer-carrying Lactobacillus species in pigs, showing strong adherence to the pig intestinal epithelial cells and being of interest because of its potential probiotic properties. (Adapted from PMID: 21478337).