Bacteriocins of Lactic Acid Bacteria and Their Industrial Application

Abstract

Lactic acid bacteria produce different types of inhibitory compound that have a bactericidal effect. The inhibitory compounds produced include metabolic end products, bacteriocins that are antimicrobial peptides with antibiotic effect, hydrogen peroxides and numerous organic acids depending on their fermentation pathway. The inhibitory activity by bacteriocins produced by lactic acid bacteria is diverse, comprising of strains capable of inhibiting different types of Gram-positive micro-organisms to those that affect only organism of close general. With the growing concern over the spread of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms and the possibility of current therapies becoming inefficient, it is imperative to find antibiotics alternatives. In food preservation, naturally occurring peptides with antimicrobial activity are favoured over chemical preservatives a more reason why there should be a holistic approach to taking advantage of bacteriocinogenic bacteria in medicine and food industry. This review focuses on the application of bacteriocin in food preservation, food industry, livestock and medicine.