This review shows the recent acid lactic bacteria advances, their functional and therapeutic potential, synthesis of polisaccharides and their possibilities of application in the cultures of starter industry, foods and healthful-foods. There are included topics that go from the origin of the lactic acid bacteria (LAB), tipic and industrial products applications, their biological and genetic characteristics, description of a diverse number of strains, their main products of fermentation, with a greater approach in the exo-polisaccharides producing for the application in the food industry, as well as concepts and advances in functional food like the symbiotic ones, until the future perspective of researchs.