Lysozyme is one of the most frequently used biopreservatives
in antimicrobial packagingThis enzyme shows antimicrobial
activity mainly on gram-positive bacteria by
splitting the bonds between N-acetylmuramic acid and
N-acetylglucosamine of the peptidoglycan in their cell
walls. Because of their protective outer membrane surrounding
the peptidoglycan layer, lysozyme does not
show antibacterial activity against gram-negative bacteria.
However, when it is combined with EDTA the
outer membranes of gram-negative bacteria are destabilized
by this agent and the antimicrobial spectrum of
lysozyme increases signiWcantly (