Bacteriocins

When bacteria get infected, they adopt a defence system by producing antimicrobial compounds known as bacteriocins. The bacteriocins vary in their molecular weight. This chapter includes details on the classification, the most recent scientific works, and the understanding on bacteriocins. The role of bacteriocins in improving human health and animals has been discussed. All over the globe studies are being done to achieve food preservation methods by natural means. It discusses the methods of food preservation using bacteriocins in a natural way as they come under the GRAS category. Various types of bacteriocins are produced by different bacteria. It is the probiotic cultures that produce the bacteriocins and have antimicrobial activity. They are helpful in killing many pathogens and can, therefore, prevent many harmful diseases. All these aspects have been well described in this chapter. The bacteriocins are the natural alternative to kill multidrug-resistant pathogens.