Antagonistic properties of yeast killer toxins: biosynthesis and practical applications

Killer toxins Biosynthesi Antimicrobial activity Pathogenic microorganismsInterest in yeast killer toxinsprotein exometabolites synthesized by certain yeast speciesis driven by their antagonistic properties against microorganisms, particularly pathogens.Yeast killer toxins were first identified in the 1950s in Saccharomyces yeast, and later described in Kluyveromyces, Pichia, Candida, and some other yeasts.The mechanisms of action of killer toxins include disrupting the integrity of the cell wall or membrane of the target cell and destructive effects on the DNA of sensitive cells.Yeast killer toxins have potential applications in various fields, including agriculture, food industry, and medicine.In agriculture, they can be used for biological control of phytopathogenic fungi.In the food industry, killer toxins serve as safe biopreservatives that prevent the growth of undesirable microorganisms in raw materials, semi-finished products, and finished goods.Their most extensive use is observed in winemaking.In medicine, killer toxins may serve as an alternative to traditional antibiotics, particularly for the treatment of candidiasis, due to their selective action against pathogenic Candida strains, minimal impact on beneficial microflora, low likelihood of resistance development, and natural origin, which reduces the risk of toxicity.Generalized data on the structure and biosynthesis of killer toxins, their mechanisms of action, qualitative and quantitative determination methods, and prospects for their practical production are presented in the article.