Molecular Simulation: a Remarkable Tool to Study Mechanisms of Cell Membrane Preservation in Probiotic Bacteria

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have come of age. They have been increasingly used by scientists and engineers over the last two decades, and have attracted attention also in the field of food science, namely to address topics involving enzymes, carbohydrates, or cryoprotectants. This review focuses on the latter topic, more specifically on the application of MD to the study of lactic acid bacteria (cryo)preservation and the protective action operated by fructo-oligosaccharides. The lack of fundamental research on the subject and possible ways of filling this gap are discussed.