Nisin: Prerequisites and Prospects for Application in the Medical Field

Nisin is a typical representative of class I bacteriocins belonging to subtype A1 lantibiotics. This lantibiotic is produced by gram-positive bacteria of the genera Lactococcus, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Blautia. Currently, at least twelve natural variants of nisin are known. They differ in some physicochemical properties and biological activity. Nisin is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) and has been used as a food additive for seven decades. The current review presents the data from scientific reports over the past decade supporting the value of this lantibiotic as a therapeutic agent. Most research works demonstrate a high inhibitory potential of nisin against antibiotic-resistant bacteria when using alone and in combination with antibiotics. A number of studies prove the ability of nisin to modulate the composition of oral and intestinal microbiomes, to inhibit the growth of both bacteria causing infectious processes and bacterial pathogens associated with cancer. Nisin has been shown to have its own antitumor potential and to be able to enhance the therapeutic effect of chemotherapeutic drugs. There is convincing evidence of its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activity. The reasons limiting its widespread application in clinical practice can be successfully eliminated via modern bioengineering technologies that improve the functional characteristics and stability of nisin in various physiological conditions.