The frequent use of antibiotics has led to a rise in the antibiotic resistance of pathogens associated with humans and animals. Antibiotic resistance and the emergence of multi-drug resistant bacterial pathogens have led to the investigation of alternative antimicrobial agents to treat and prevent infections in both humans and animals. Research on antimicrobial peptides, with a special interest on bacteriocins of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), is entering a new era with novel applications other than food preservation. Many scientists are now focusing on the application of these peptides in medicinal and personal care products. Bacteriocins are small, cationic, amphiphillic peptides produced by some strains of LAB that exhibit structural features typical of members of the eukaryotic channel-forming amphipathic peptides and display antimicrobial activity against other bacteria. Some bacteriocins exhibit a much broader spectrum of antimicrobial activity and may extend beyond the borders of bacteria to include protozoa, yeast, fungi and viruses. Use of live probiotic bacteria may have prophylactic applications, but use of purified bacteriocins appears to be more attractive for eradicating an established infection. Some of the studies have also established bacteriocins as potent spermicidal and anti-neoplastic agents with very impressive market value in the form of health care products.
