Chitosan, obtained as a result of the deacetylation of chitin, one of the most important naturally occurring polymers, has antimicrobial properties against fungi, and bacteria. It is also useful in other fields, including: food, biomedicine, biotechnology, agriculture, and the pharmaceutical industries. A literature survey shows that its antimicrobial activity depends upon several factors such as: the pH, temperature, molecular weight, ability to chelate metals, degree of deacetylation, source of chitosan, and the type of microorganism involved. This review will focus on the in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial properties of chitosan and its derivatives, along with a discussion on its mechanism of action during the treatment of infectious animal diseases, as well as its importance in food safety. We conclude with a summary of the challenges associated with the uses of chitosan and its derivatives.

中文翻译：

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几丁质/壳聚糖衍生物及其与微生物的相互作用：全面综述和未来展望。

几丁质是最重要的天然聚合物之一，几丁质脱乙酰化的结果，它对真菌和细菌具有抗菌性能。它在其他领域也有用，包括：食品，生物医学，生物技术，农业和制药业。文献调查表明，其抗菌活性取决于多个因素，例如：pH，温度，分子量，螯合金属的能力，脱乙酰度，壳聚糖的来源以及涉及的微生物类型。这篇综述将侧重于壳聚糖及其衍生物的体外和体内抗菌特性，并讨论其在传染性动物疾病治疗过程中的作用机理及其在食品安全中的重要性。