Preclinical studies of toxicity and safety of the AS-48 bacteriocin.

•AS-48 is a 70-residue circular bacteriocin produced by Enterococcus strains.•Toxicity of AS-48 in in vitro and in vivo models has been evaluated.•The haemolytic activity and lacks of pro-inflammatory effects of AS-48 are minimal.•AS-48 has scarce ability to cause loss of cell viability at therapeutic concentrations.•AS-48 is a promising therapeutic agent against a vast array of microbial infections.