Epsilon-poly-L-lysine and nisin A act synergistically against Gram-positive food-borne pathogens Bacillus cereus and Listeria monocytogenes.
OBJECTIVE
To test epsilon-poly-L-lysine and nisin A for possible synergistic activity against selected food-borne pathogens and food spoilage organisms.


RESULTS
Synergistic activity was observed against Gram-positive Listeria monocytogenes and Bacillus cereus cells and spores of B. cereus in 96 well plate assays. However, nisin A had no effect alone or in combination with epsilon-poly-L-lysine against Gram-negative Escherichia coli cells. In addition, when tested against yeast Zygosaccharomyces bailii, nisin A and partially inhibitory concentrations of epsilon-poly-L-lysine antagonized each other.


CONCLUSIONS
Nisin A and epsilon-poly-L-lysine showed synergistic activity against B. cereus and L. monocytogenes.


CONCLUSIONS
The application of nisin A and epsilon-poly-L-lysine is a promising all-natural method of controlling Gram-positive food-borne pathogens, spores and spoilage organisms.
Badaoui Najjar
M
M
Department of Food Science, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
Kashtanov
D
D
Chikindas
M L
ML
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005519:Food Preservation; D005520:Food Preservatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009561:Nisin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011107:Polylysine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005520:Food Preservatives; D009561:Nisin; D011107:Polylysine