Abstract
Large intestinal microbiota, together with their products, play an important role in the maintenance of the homeostasis in the human organism. Colicins belong to bacteriocins, proteins, which are produced by Escherichia coli and the other bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family.
Colicins possess antibacterial, proapoptotic and probiotic properties. Their antineoplastic features have been proved in in vitro studies.
After production of the colicin by the maternal bacteria, it is released into the extracelular environment. Binding of the colicin to the receptor of the outer membrane of the target cell follows and one of the lethal mechanisms towards the target cell is realized.
Our paper deals with the significance of colicins in the diagnostics of enteroinvasive enterocolitis and the roles of colicins in inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal neoplasia. large intestinal microbiota, bacteriocins, colicins