Food additives like nisin open doorway for pathogens to weaken microbiome, experts flag

09 Feb 2024 — Researchers from the University of Chicago, US, scoured a database of human gut bacteria genomes and discovered that common classes of lantibiotics — a set of peptide antibiotics containing unique amino acids — have potent effects against pathogens and commensal gut bacteria. 

Commensal gut bacteria degrade food in the intestine to supply energy to the cells and are necessary to keep humans healthy. The scientific analysis focused on nisin, a common preservative used to kill pathogens in food and observed that it has an adverse effect on beneficial bacteria, which can threaten the balance of the gut microbiome.