Importance in dairy technology of bacteriocins produced by dairy starter cultures

Abstract

Bacteriocins produced by Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and propionic acid bacteria (PAB) are heterogeneous group of peptide inhibitors which include lantibiotics (class I, e. g. nisin), small heat-stable peptides (class II, e. g. pediocin PA-1) and large heat-labile proteins (class III, e. g. helveticin J). Many bacteriocins belonging to the first two groups can be successfully used to inhibit undesirable microorganisms in foods, but only nisin is produced industrially and is used as a food preservative. LAB and PAB develops easily in milk and milk products. LAB and PAB growth in dairy products can cause microbial interference to spoilage and pathogenic bacteria through several metabolits, specially bacteriocins. The review deals with the description of milk-borne bacteriocins and their application in milk and milk products either to extend the shelf life or to inhibit milk pathogens