title: Bacteriocin production: a relatively unharnessed probiotic trait?
abstract: Probiotics are "live microorganisms which, when consumed in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit to the host". A number of attributes are highly sought after among these microorganisms, including immunomodulation, epithelial barrier maintenance, competitive exclusion, production of short-chain fatty acids, and bile salt metabolism. Bacteriocin production is also generally regarded as a probiotic trait, but it can be argued that, in contrast to other traits, it is often considered a feature that is desirable, rather than a key probiotic trait. As such, the true potential of these antimicrobials has yet to be realised.
authors.affiliation: Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland; Department of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hegarty
authors.affiliation: Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Caitriona M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Guinane
authors.affiliation: Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland; APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: R Paul
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland; APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5465-9068
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Cotter
keywords: bacteriocin; gut health; microbiota; probiotic