Year: 2018
Type: review
Abstract: Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya and viruses coexist in the human gut, and this coexistence is functionally balanced by symbiotic or antagonistic relationships. Antagonism is often characterized by the production of antimicrobials against other organisms occupying the same environmental niche. Indeed, close co-evolution in the gut has led to the development of specialized antimicrobials, which is attracting increased attention as these may serve as novel alternatives to antibiotics and thereby help to address the global problem of antimicrobial resistance. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is especially suitable for finding novel antimicrobials due to the vast array of microbes that inhabit it, and a considerable number of antimicrobial producers of both wide and narrow spectrum have been described. In this review, we summarize some of the antimicrobial compounds that are produced by bacteria isolated from the gut environment, with a special focus on bacteriocins. We also evaluate the potential therapeutic application of these compounds to maintain homeostasis in the gut and the biocontrol of pathogenic bacteria.
Source: Gut Microbes
Language: English
Subfield: Food Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,060
Awards: G1186195782, G1383882326, Modulation of the gut microbes to promote health throughout life, Obesibiotics, Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre (APC) - Interfacing Food & Medicine, G3544341628, G3885637327, G5098725405, G528836942, G5320101875, Gut commensals: interaction with the host and analysis of their role in health and disease, Analysis of gut microbiota and its role in health and disease, G7605452983, G7785065721
OpenAlex ID: W2794654115