Table 1.

Bacteriocin classes’ characteristics, spectrum, and mode of action.

Class	Subclass	Examples	Characteristics	Antimicrobial Spectrum	Mechanisms of Action	References
I	Ia (lantibiotics)	Nisin, lacticin 481, lactosin S, carnocin U149, subtilin subtilosin A Mersacidin	small membrane-active, proteolysis- and heat-resistant peptides (<5 kDa)	MRSA, Listeria spp., Streptococcus sp. Clostridium difficile, Bacillus, Enterococcus, C. albicans	Pore formation Cell wall synthesis	[16]
	Ib(labyrinthopeptins)
	Ic (sanctibiotics)
II	IIa (pediocin-like bacteriocins), IIb (two-peptides unmodified bacteriocins), IIc (circular bacteriocins) IId (unmodified, linear, nonpediocin-like bacteriocins)	Pediocin PA-I, pediocin AcH, enterocin A Uberolysin, carnocyclin, circularin A and AS-48, Grassericin A/reutericin A	heat-stable, pH- resistant, nonmodified, small peptides (<10 kDa)	E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Serratia marcescens, K. pneumoniae, MRSA	Pore formation	[14,15,16,17]
III	Gram positive: lysostaphin, lactacin A and B helveticin V-1829, helveticin J, helveticin M acidophilus A		large heat-labile proteins (with a molecular weight higher than 10 kDa	S. aureus, S. saprophyticus, Enterobacter cloacae Gardnerella vaginalis, Streptococcus agalactiae, P. aeruginosa	Pore formation	[15,16,19,20]
	Gram negative: pyocin salmocins			P. aeruginosa Salmonella sp. STEC	Pore formation	[22,23,24]