Pore-forming bacteriocins of gram-positive bacteria and self-protection mechanisms of producer organisms.

Proteinaceous antimicrobial compounds are produced by a diversity of species ranging from bacteria to humans. This review focuses on the mode of action of pore-forming bacteriocins produced by Gram-positive bacteria. The mechanism of action of specific immunity proteins, which protect the producer strains from the lethal action of their own products (producer self-protection), are also discussed.