Bacteriocins are proteinaceous substances produced by certain bacteria, which display growth-inhibitory activity against a range of other bacteria belonging to the same or closely-related species. Bacteriocins of gram-negative bacteria (colisins) have been extensively characterized, resulting in comprehensive knowledge of the genetic basis, domain structure, mode of formation, and killing actio...

Lactic acid bacteria are generally recognised as safe (GRAS) organisms producing bacteriocins that help in inhibiting food borne pathogens. However, its narrow spectrum activity is a major limitation for food applications. Thus, a combination of different methods were attempted to broaden the antimicrobial spectrum of bacteriocins produced using lactic acid bacteria. Initially, the antimicrobia...

Bacteriocins are bacterial ribosomal synthesized antimicrobial peptides lethal to bacteria other than the producing strain (Nissen-Meyer and Nes, 1997). Members of the Bacillus group are considered good producers of antimicrobial substances, including peptide and lipopeptide antibiotics, and bacteriocins (Stein et al., 2005). Bacteriocins from Bacillus species offer a much broader spectrum of p...

Circular bacteriocins are a group of N-to-C-terminally linked antimicrobial peptides, produced by Gram-positive bacteria of the phylum Firmicutes. Circular bacteriocins generally exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, including against common food-borne pathogens, such as Clostridium and Listeria spp. These peptides are further known for their high pH and thermal stability, as well as f...

Induction by mitomycin or high-temperature treatment resulted in the production of bacteriocins and phages in both phases of Xenorhabdus nematophilus A24, indicating lysogeny. Phage DNA purified from X. nematophilus A24 hybridized to several fragments of DraI-digested A24 chromosomal DNA, confirming that the phage genome was incorporated into the bacterial chromosome. Bacteriocins and phages we...

Epidemiological analysis of isolates from nosocomial infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae was improved by the use of bacteriocins in addition to capsular serotyping. Screening for bacteriocins produced by 77 reference strains for capsular serotyping identified 39 strains, and 8 of these strains were selected as a typing set. Using this set, we found that 241 to 259 (91%) nonepidemic clini...

This commentary was aimed at shedding light on the multifunction of bacteriocins mainly those produced by lactic acid bacteria. These antibacterial agents were first used to improve food safety and quality. With the increasing antibiotic resistance concern worldwide, they have been considered as viable agents to replace or potentiate the fading abilities of conventional antibiotics to control h...

Bacillus thermoleovorans S-II and B. thermoleovorans NR-9 produce bacteriocins, and these bacteriocins are designated thermoleovorin-S2 and thermoleovorin-N9, respectively. The bacteriocins are effective against all but the producing strain of B. thermoleovorans, as well as being effective against Salmonella typhimurium, Branhamella catarrhalis, Streptococcus faecalis, and Thermus aquaticus. Th...

Antibodies against enterocin A were obtained by immunization of rabbits with synthetic peptides PH4 and PH5 designed, respectively, on the N- and C-terminal amino acid sequences of enterocin A and conjugated to the carrier protein KLH. Anti-PH4-KLH antibodies not only recognized enterocin A but also pediocin PA-1, enterocin P, and sakacin A, three bacteriocins which share the N-terminal class I...

Bacteriocin producing Lactobacillus acidophilus and Pediococcus acidilactici were isolated from milk and meat samples, respectively. An attempt was made to produce bacteriocin in a Dairy Based (DB) medium using these organisms. Higher bacteriocin activity was shown by L. acidophilus in the DB medium. Bacteriocins of both the organisms were effective against food pathogens. The bacteriocins were...