Bacteriocins future perspectives: Substitutes to antibiotics

Background: Antimicrobials are substances that either eradicate or inhibit the growth of microorganisms. The
days of traditional antibiotics are over since their overuse has led to worldwide health and environmental issues.
Thus, there is a need for novel antimicrobial proteins/peptides with improved properties over existing ones. The
goal of microbiology research over the past ten years has been to identify, create, and market antimicrobials from
benign microorganisms that are just as effective. The bioactive peptides or proteins, synthesized by probiotics
and other beneficial microorganisms, are also referred to as postbiotics. The application of the recently created
postbiotics is unrestricted in the food sector. Nisin and pediocin are two postbiotics that are widely used in the
worldwide food sector. If successful, they could also be the best candidates to be therapeutic proteins that take
the place of traditional antibiotics.
Scope and approach: To gain a comprehensive understanding of today’s postbiotic landscape, it’s crucial to grasp
the importance of bacteriocin and its diverse applications across various sectors such as food, heterologous
expression, bioprocessing, and as a substitute for antibiotics.
Key findings and conclusions: Peptides with antibacterial properties that are authorized for use in the food industry
are known as bacteriocins. They are utilized in agriculture, the food industry, and other fields. Due to new re­
strictions, stronger antiviral treatments are among the novel antimicrobial drugs being researched. The potential
application of bacteriocins in COVID-19 therapy is under investigation. Additionally, other alternatives such as
plant-based chemicals, animal venoms, and bacteriophage therapy have also contributed to the development of
antibiotic substitutes.