BAMP Symposium

BACTERIOCINS AND ANTIMICROBIAL PEPTIDES – BAMP2024

SCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIUM

18-20 June 2024

It has become a tradition for the BAMP (Bacteriocins and Antimicrobial Peptides) symposium to be a part of the IPC (International Probiotic Conference). In 2024, IPC/BAMP will be held on the 18^th-20^th June in Prague, Czech Republic (www.probiotic-conference.net) and will reunion scientist, students, and representatives from industry and regulations agencies, from all around the World. The meeting will serve as a platform for the exchange of knowledge and ideas regarding the past, presence, and future of beneficial microbes, probiotics, antimicrobials proteins, and their influence for a prosperous and healthier future.

Almost one century since the first reports of bacteriocins were announced in 1925. Initially mapped as metabolites produced by Escherichia coli, later were associated with lactic acid bacteria and other microorganisms, ranging from Bacteria to Archaea. Almost one century of research, realizing visions of microbiologists that natural antimicrobials can contribute to biopreservation processes and have current and future applications in the combat against food borne and spoilage pathogens, and infectious diseases. Building fundamental knowledge regarding all aspects of production, genetic organization, metabolic properties, applications in different areas of food and feed safety and preservation, human and veterinary health practices are only a few aspects of the research dedicated to those small polypeptides, called bacteriocins.

Initially suggested as effective actors in biopreservation processes, bacteriocins won researchers’ interest in numerous projects and resulted in applications related to improving food safety and contributing to the reduction of chemical preservatives, providing food commodities to consumers with improved environmental and nutritional status. Moreover, in the past decade application of bacteriocins has gained the interest of researchers for applications in human and veterinary medical practices. Scientific evidence for the beneficial role of bacteriocins in controlling human and animals’ pathogens is a realistic hope for new areas of applications. From co-antimicrobial metabolites to effective single molecules, bacteriocins are showing their potential as promising pharmaceuticals.

Bacteriocins are used as food preservatives and potential therapeutic agents against various infections. However, the future of bacteriocin applications is not limited to these fields. Bacteriocins have also been explored for their potential as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and plant growth promoting agents. Some bacteriocins have been shown to induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) or autophagy (self-digestion) in cancer cells, such as colon cancer, breast cancer, and leukemia. Bacteriocins may also enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy or radiotherapy by sensitizing cancer cells to these treatments. Reports showed that some bacteriocins can be actively involved in the modulation of the inflammatory response by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) or by stimulating the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines (such as IL-10 and TGF-β). Bacteriocins may also reduce the expression of inflammatory mediators (such as COX-2, iNOS, and NF-κB) or enhance the expression of anti-inflammatory mediators (such as Nrf2 and HO-1). Bacteriocins may have applications in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis, colitis, and sepsis. Some bacteriocins have been shown to modulate the immune system by affecting the differentiation and activation of immune cells (such as T cells, B cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells). Bacteriocins may also influence the balance between Th1 and Th2 responses, which are involved in cellular and humoral immunity, respectively. They can be applied in the prevention or treatment of immune disorders, such as allergies, asthma, autoimmune diseases, and infections; In the agricultural sector, some bacteriocins have been shown to promote plant growth by enhancing nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, or phytohormone synthesis by plant-associated bacteria. Bacteriocins may also protect plants from phytopathogens by inhibiting their growth or virulence factors. Bacteriocins may have applications in the improvement of crop yield and quality.

These are some of the future applications of bacteriocins that are being investigated by researchers. However, more studies are needed to evaluate the safety, efficacy, stability, and delivery of bacteriocins in different settings and applications, and this is the role of such as symposium, to serve as an incubator for discussion future of that potent antimicrobials.

This symposium will bring specialist from different areas together, with the aim to present their latest research on production and applications of bacteriocins; discuss the reality of the bacteriocins role in food and medical sectors, their dreams for the future and new ideas.

Svetoslav Dimitrov Todorov, president of BAMP 2024 Symposium
Arthur Ouwehand, president of IPC 2024 Conference