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The emergence of bacterial pathogens with acquired resistance to almost all available antimicrobials is one of the major concerns today. Resistant pathogens are causing 700,000 deaths per year. It is expected by 2050 that infectious diseases will be responsible for more than 10 million deaths per year, a number higher than the 8.2 million caused by cancer today.

Bacteriocins, also known as antimicrobial peptides, are produced naturally by bacteria. Bacteriocins have antimicrobial activity against bacteria closely related to the producer strain in order to protect their ecological niche.