Bacteriocins: Promising Natural Antimicrobials

Bacteriocins are described as ribosomally synthesized small poly peptides that exert antimicrobial effects against closely or non-closely related bacteria. The major producer group for bacteriocins is lactic acid bacteria (LAB) that contain a great variety of microorganisms described as “generally recognized as safe (GRAS)” by the US Food and Drug Administration. Due to this accredited safety potency of their origin and the wide-range effectiveness on pathogenic or spoilage bacteria, bacteriocins have attracted great research interest as natural antimicrobial agents, thereby allowing the design of new technologies for combating microbial pathogens in many industrial applications. For example, bacteriocins play a crucial role in maintaining the food safety and several bacteriocin preparations are commercially available for wide-range applications in the industry.