Bacteriocins are ribosomally synthesised peptides produced by bacteria and generally exhibit antimicrobial activity against closely related target strains. In recent years, developments in DNA sequencing technology in combination with more regular use of software such as BAGEL or AntiSMASH have led to the identification of potential bacteriocin producing strains using an in silico approach. Concurrently, advances in laboratory-based screening and experimental techniques have resulted in the development of hybrid bacteriocins with a view to targeting specific pathogens in a narrow-spectrum manner. Studies aiming to gain insights into the mechanism of action of several classes of bacteriocins have also led to more efficient use either independently or in combination with other antimicrobials against certain pathogens, ultimately with the aim of using such synergistic combinations in lieu of using antibiotics. While the majority of studies historically have related to the use of bacteriocins to target specific clinical and/or food pathogens, recent advances in microbiome science have led to an appreciation on how bacterocins can potentially be utilised to beneficially modulate the microbiome as a whole. Indeed, it has been known for several years that many broad-spectrum antibiotics can cause detrimental damage to the gut microbiome in terms of reducing microbial diversity. Therefore, a recent focus amongst scientists studying bacterocins and the microbiome has been to source novel narrow-spectrum bacterocins and/or utilise existing bacteriocins to beneficially alter the microbiome they are targeting. An example of an alternative approach to the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, which have been shown to be potentially detrimental to the gut when targeting gut pathogens such as Clostridium difficile, is to source novel narrow-spectrum bacteriocins. For instance, thuricin CD has been shown to specifically target C. difficile, whilst leaving the remaining gut microbiota largely unperturbed.This Research Topic aims to collect papers pertaining to (but not exclusively limited to) the following topics:• Novel bacteriocins and other groups of ribosomally synthesised and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) discovered using in silico and experimental methods relating to, amongst others: antimicrobial spectrum in vitro, antimicrobial gene clusters or peptide purification.• In vitro and in vivo studies investigating the impact of bacteriocins and RiPPs on the microbiome, including the gut, oral and skin microbiome.• Cloning and heterologous expression of bacteriocins and other RiPPs with the aim to overexpression, using the system as a basis for further mutagenesis-based studies.• Mutagenesis studies with the aim to enhance the bioactivity and/or physicochemical properties of both existing and novel bacteriocin peptides.• Review articles relating to any of the above-mentioned topics.Merely descriptive papers without presenting a clear hypothesis and Genome Announcements are discouraged.
Bacteriocins are ribosomally synthesised peptides produced by bacteria and generally exhibit antimicrobial activity against closely related target strains. In recent years, developments in DNA sequencing technology in combination with more regular use of software such as BAGEL or AntiSMASH have led to the identification of potential bacteriocin producing strains using an in silico approach. Concurrently, advances in laboratory-based screening and experimental techniques have resulted in the development of hybrid bacteriocins with a view to targeting specific pathogens in a narrow-spectrum manner. Studies aiming to gain insights into the mechanism of action of several classes of bacteriocins have also led to more efficient use either independently or in combination with other antimicrobials against certain pathogens, ultimately with the aim of using such synergistic combinations in lieu of using antibiotics. While the majority of studies historically have related to the use of bacteriocins to target specific clinical and/or food pathogens, recent advances in microbiome science have led to an appreciation on how bacterocins can potentially be utilised to beneficially modulate the microbiome as a whole. Indeed, it has been known for several years that many broad-spectrum antibiotics can cause detrimental damage to the gut microbiome in terms of reducing microbial diversity. Therefore, a recent focus amongst scientists studying bacterocins and the microbiome has been to source novel narrow-spectrum bacterocins and/or utilise existing bacteriocins to beneficially alter the microbiome they are targeting. An example of an alternative approach to the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, which have been shown to be potentially detrimental to the gut when targeting gut pathogens such as Clostridium difficile, is to source novel narrow-spectrum bacteriocins. For instance, thuricin CD has been shown to specifically target C. difficile, whilst leaving the remaining gut microbiota largely unperturbed.This Research Topic aims to collect papers pertaining to (but not exclusively limited to) the following topics:• Novel bacteriocins and other groups of ribosomally synthesised and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) discovered using in silico and experimental methods relating to, amongst others: antimicrobial spectrum in vitro, antimicrobial gene clusters or peptide purification.• In vitro and in vivo studies investigating the impact of bacteriocins and RiPPs on the microbiome, including the gut, oral and skin microbiome.• Cloning and heterologous expression of bacteriocins and other RiPPs with the aim to overexpression, using the system as a basis for further mutagenesis-based studies.• Mutagenesis studies with the aim to enhance the bioactivity and/or physicochemical properties of both existing and novel bacteriocin peptides.• Review articles relating to any of the above-mentioned topics.Merely descriptive papers without presenting a clear hypothesis and Genome Announcements are discouraged.