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. 2012:2012:386410.
doi: 10.1155/2012/386410. Epub 2011 Nov 30.

Development of Class IIa Bacteriocins as Therapeutic Agents

Christopher T Lohans  1 , John C Vederas
Affiliations

Development of Class IIa Bacteriocins as Therapeutic Agents

Christopher T Lohans et al. Int J Microbiol. 2012.

Abstract

Class IIa bacteriocins have been primarily explored as natural food preservatives, but there is much interest in exploring the application of these peptides as therapeutic antimicrobial agents. Bacteriocins of this class possess antimicrobial activity against several important human pathogens. Therefore, the therapeutic development of these bacteriocins will be reviewed. Biological and chemical modifications to both stabilize and increase the potency of bacteriocins are discussed, as well as the optimization of their production and purification. The suitability of bacteriocins as pharmaceuticals is explored through determinations of cytotoxicity, effects on the natural microbiota, and in vivo efficacy in mouse models. Recent results suggest that class IIa bacteriocins show promise as a class of therapeutic agents.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A representation of class IIa bacteriocin leucocin A, with the YGNGV consensus sequence and an N-terminal disulfide bridge.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The NMR solution structure of leucocin A [20].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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