Bacteriocins: potential usages and mechanism of action

Bacteriocin has established significant efficacy as a therapeutic agent. Its discovery has been a breakthrough in the combat against antibiotic resistance, which includes both multidrug-resistant and chronic bacterial infections. They are mainly bactericidal, antibiotic-like compounds produced by many bacteria that kill strains of the same or nearly related species and are differ from other (classical) antibiotics due to their restricted specificity of action and protein composition. It inhibits target organisms from proliferating by forming pores in the cell membrane, inhibiting cell wall component manufacturing, affecting autolytic enzyme activity, and preventing the development of bacterial spores. According to reports, bacteriocins are used as preservatives, probiotics, medications, plant growth promoters, oral, dental, and skin diseases, women's healthcare, and anticancer therapy in agriculture, veterinary medicine, food, and pharmaceutical industries.