BACTERIOCINS - ECOLOGICAL AND EVOLUTIONARY SIGNIFICANCE

Bacteriocins are compounds that are produced by bacteria and are antag onistic to other bacteria. Although they have been known for many year s, recent interest in these compounds has increased because of their p otential use as natural food preservatives. Although most of this rese arch has been directed at the molecular level, a clearer picture of th e ecological role played by bacteriocins in natural environments is be ginning to emerge. In addition, the importance and practical implicati ons of evolutionary aspects of bacteriocins and bacteriocin resistance are now being assessed.