bacteriocinBacteriol.|bækˈtɪərɪəʊsɪn|Formerly also -ine.[ad.F. bactériocine (F. Jacob et al. 1953, in Ann.de l'Inst.Pasteur LXXXIV. 223),f.bactérie bacterium + colicine colicin: see -o.]Anyusu.proteinaceous antibiotic produced by bacteria of one strain and active against those of another strain.1954Nature 4 Sept. 465/1Its characteristics are more closely related to the bacteriocines.1959Jacob & Wollman in M. H. AdamsBacteriophages xx. 382The general term of bacteriocins has been proposed to include such antibiotics of protein nature whose production is lethal and whose action, restricted to a narrow range of related species, is conditioned by the presence of specific receptors.1972Nature 24 Mar. 144/1The colicins, bacteriocins of strains of Escherichia coli, needless to say, have been more extensively studied than their counterparts in the more arcane bacterial genera.1985McGraw-HillYearbk.Sci.&Technol.1986 280/1It is..likely that bacteriocin production is the principal means by which indigenous bacteria of the bowel and lower genitourinary tract suppress potential pathogens that attempt to colonize these two sites.