Figure 1. Functional diversity of ribosomally produced bacterial peptides.

Bacterial peptides produced by both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria include antimicrobial peptides such as Nisin and Microcin B17, known host virulence factors such as the Streptolysin S-like cytolysins, and the peptide cytolysin from E. faecalis. Bacterial peptides that structurally resemble bacteriocins are also utilized as signaling molecules. Computational and genomic approaches, such as BAGEL, BACTIBASE, and Anti-SMASH, can be combined with genomic data to catalog and discover new ribosomally produced bacterial peptides. Combining computational approaches with experimental data can guide the development of novel antimicrobials and artificially derived peptides with specific functions and targets.