Scope of Bacteriocins as a Viable Alternative to the Traditional Antibiotics

Microbes produce an extradinary array of microbial defense systems. These include broad spectrum low molecular weight classical antibiotics, metabolic by-products, lytic agents, numerous types of protein exotoxins, defense bacteriophages and bacteriocins. Bacteriocins are defined as biologically active protein moieties with a bactericidal mode of action, which are ribosomally synthesized. They can alter cell membrane integrity and interfere with transcription, translocation or DNA replication. They differ from traditional antibiotics in one critical way that they have relatively narrow killing spectrum and are mostly toxic to bacteria, which are closely related strains. The intrinsic property of bacterial strains has led to studies for their potential use as bio preservatives, therapeutic agents and biocontrol organisms. In this review, some of the aspects of bacteiocinogeny particularly their prevalence in microbial world have been discussed.