Pediocin PA-1, a wide-spectrum bacteriocin from lactic acid bacteria.

Pediocin PA-1 is a broad-spectrum lactic acid bacteria bacteriocin that shows a particularly strong activity against Listeria monocytogenes, a foodborne pathogen of special concern among the food industries. This antimicrobial peptide is the most extensively studied class Ila (or pediocin family) bacteriocin, and it has been sufficiently well characterized to be used as a food biopreservative. This review focuses on the progress that have been made in the elucidation of its structure, mode of action, and biosynthesis, and includes an overview of its applications in food systems. The aspects that need further research are also addressed. In the future, protein engineering, genetic engineering and/or chemical synthesis may lead to the development of new antimicrobial peptides with improved properties, based on some features of the pediocin PA-1 molecule.