Pyocin as an Alternative for Antibiotic Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a major threat to health worldwide. Undermining decades of progress in medical science, pyocin, a bacteriocin synthesized by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, has caught the attention of academics as a viable alternative to conventional antibiotics. In particular, the usefulness of pyocin in combating multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is underlined by its properties. This is especially important for pyocin strains that target antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Pyocins are released through bacterial cell lysis and function via various antimicrobial mechanisms. These include depolarization of the bacterial cell membrane or DNA cleavage, making them promising candidates. These properties make pyocins promising candidates for managing antibiotic-resistant infections. Nonetheless, challenges remain in large-scale production, stability, and clinical application. This review elucidates the therapeutic potential of pyocins, examines their mechanisms of action, and identifies avenues for future research.