DBT Centre for Bioinformatics Presidency College, Kolkata

LantiBase

	LANTIBIOTICS

		ABOUT LANTIBIOTICS
		INTRODUCTION
		CLASSIFICATION
		BIOSYNTHESIS
		APPLICATION
		RESEARCH
		3D STRUCTURE

	DATABASES


		ANTAGOMIRBASE
		LANTIBASE
		SERPINBASE

APPLICATION

Even before their use in the treatment of drug resistant bacteria was suggested it has been apparent that lantibiotics could have potential medical applications. Lantibiotics have been investigated since 1928 when the prototypical lantibiotic nisin was first reported as having activity against tubercle bacilli . More recently the use of nisin has become widespread and it is currently sold in more than 40 countries as a food preservative. It was added to the positive list of food additives by the EU as additive number E234 and has been approved by the FDA . Not only is it recognised as safe but it is also active against a very wide range of bacteria, making it suitable for a number of different applications. Despite the relative success of nisin in the food arena the lantibiotics can be considered in general to be an under-utilised resource. This trend may change in the near future, however, as a consequence of advances in our biotechnological capabilities and improved understanding of the synthesis and novel mode of action of lantibiotics. Fundamental analysis has revealed the importance of individual amino acids in these peptides and has permitted the implementation of rational mutagenesis strategies to alter these residues with a view to ultimately widening the active pH range, improve stability, and enhance binding to cell wall targets with the ultimate aim of optimising the antimicrobial activity of lantibiotics. A better understanding of these antimicrobial peptides increases the likelihood of practical applications and also improves the possibility that tailormade or hybrid lantibiotics can be generated to target particular bacteria. An improved understanding of the biosynthetic enzymes involved in lantibiotic production may also facilitate the introduction of modified amino acids into non-lantibiotic peptides. In the shorter term the extensive characterisation of lantibiotics will be instrumental in reassuring drug industry regulators of their safety and facilitate the widespread application of these novelantimicrobial agents in medicine.

Lantibiotic	Producing strain	Inhibitory activity of commercial interest	Potential Biomedical Applications
Nisin A	Lactococcus lactis	Gram-positive bacteria, Gram negative bacteria including Helicobacter pylori	Bacterial mastitis, Oral hygiene, Treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and enterococcal infections, Cosmetic deodorants and topical formulations, peptic ulcer treatment, treatment of enterocolitis, lung mucus clearing
Lacticin 3147	Lactococcus lactis	Gram-positive bacteria	Bacterial mastitis, Treatment of MRSA and enterococcal infections, Oral hygiene, Acne
Gallidermin/ Epidermin	Staphylococcus gallinarum Staphylococcus epidermidis	Propionibacterium acnes, staphylococci, and streptococci	Acne, eczema, follicultis, impetigo
Mutacin 1140	Streptococcus mutans	Streptococcus mutan	Prevention of dental caries
Mersacidin/ Actagardine	Bacillus subsp./ Actinoplanes subsp.	Staphylococci including methicillin-resistant strains, streptococci	Treatment of MRSA and streptococcal infections
Duramycin	Streptomyces subsp. and Streptoverticillium subsp.	Weak bacterial inhibition, inhibitor of phospholipase A2	Inflammation
Cinnamycin	Streptomyces cinnamoneus	Inhibitor of phospholipase A2, angiotension converting enzyme (ACE), and herpes simplex virus	Inflammation, Blood pressure regulation, viral infection treatment
Ancovenin	Streptomyces subsp.	Inhibitor of ACE	Blood pressure regulation

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