Bacteriocins produced by lactic acid bacteria (LAB-
bacteriocins) may serve as alternatives for aging
antibiotics. LAB-
bacteriocins can be used alone, or in some cases as potentiating agents to treat
bacterial infections. This approach could meet the different calls and politics, which aim to reduce the use of traditional
antibiotics and develop novel therapeutic options. Considering the clinical applications of LAB-
bacteriocins as a reasonable and desirable therapeutic approach, it is therefore important to assess the advances achieved in understanding their modes of action, and the resistance mechanisms developed by the producing bacteria to their own
bacteriocins. Most LAB-
bacteriocins act by disturbing the cytoplasmic membrane through forming pores, or by cell wall degradation. Nevertheless, some of these
peptides still have unknown modes of action, especially those that are active against Gram-negative bacteria. Regarding immunity, most
bacteriocin-producing strains have an immunity mechanism involving an immunity
protein and a dedicated
ABC transporter system. However, these immunity mechanisms vary from one
bacteriocin to another.