Table 1 Main differences between (LAB) bacteriocins and conventional antibiotics.
From: Novel bacteriocins from lactic acid bacteria (LAB): various structures and applications
Characteristic | Bacteriocins | Antibiotics |
|---|---|---|
Application | Food/Clinical | Clinical |
Synthesis | Ribosomal | Secondary metabolite |
Bioactivity spectra | Mostly narrow | Mostly broad |
Intensity of bioactivity | Active at nano-to-micro molar range | Active at micro-to-milli molar range |
Proteolytic enzyme degradability | High | Moderate-to-none |
Thermal stability | High | Low |
Active pH range | Wide | Narrow |
Color/taste/odour | No | Yes |
Amenability to bioengineering | Yes | No |
Possible mechanism of target cell developing resistance | Adaptation through changes in cell membrane composition | Genetically transferable determinant that inactivates the active compound |
Mode of action | Pore formation, inhibition of cell wall biosynthesis | Cell membrane or intercellular targets |
Toxicity towards eukaryotic cells | Relatively no | Yes |