Table 1.

Different classes of bacteriocins and their characteristic features.

Class Type	Producing Strain	Subclasses	Characteristic Features	Major Bacteriocins	Ref.
Class I (Lantibiotics)	Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus mutans Streptococcus salivarius Lactococus uberis Staphylococcus gallinarum	Sub-class AI, AII (Linear and combined molecules)	✓Elongated, flexible, positively charged peptides ✓Acts on cell membrane and damages the cell membrane by pore formation	Nisin, Lacticin 481, Enterocin W, Lactocin, Epidermin, Mutacin B-Ny266, Gallidermin, Mersacidin, Salivaricin A, Lacticin 3147	[38,43,44]
		Sub-class B (Globular molecules)	✓Normally compact, with globular peptide chains either negative or no net charge ✓Disrupts enzymatic reactions in target species
Class II (Non-lantibiotics)	Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, L sakei, Streptococcus uberis Leuconostocmesenteroides Pediococcusacidilactici, Enterococcus faecalis, Carnobacteriumpiscicoda, C. Divergens	Class II A (Anti-listerialpediocine bacteriocins type)	✓Small antimicrobial peptides (<10 kDa) with heat-resistant properties ✓Comprises pediocin like peptides ✓Exhibits anti-listerial activity	Sakacin A, Pediocin PA-1/Ach, Carnobacteriocin X	[43,45]
		Class II B	✓Composed of two different peptides	Lactococcin G, Lactacin F Plantaracin EF and JK
		Class II C (Other bacteriocins)	✓Circular peptides, N-terminal and C-terminal covalently linked	Acidocin B, Carnobacteriocin A, Divergicin A, Enterocin A, P
Class III (Large peptides)	Lactobacillus helveticus, L. bulgaricus Lacticaseibacillus casei	Class IIIA (Lytic enzymes)	✓Larger size peptides (>30 kDa), heat-sensitive ✓Capable of binding to the receptor	Helvetic in Lactobacillus helveticus, HelveticinV-1829, Enterolysin A	[43,46,47]
		Class IIIB (Non-lytic proteins)	✓Hampers glucose uptake and ✓Disturbs cell membrane potential	Caseicin 80 Helveticin J
Class IV Cyclic bacteriocins	E. faecalis L. helveticus 481		✓Protein with chemical moieties (N- and C-terminus) ✓Attaches to the cell membrane and facilitates cell lysis	Enterocin AS-48 Glycocin F	[48,49]