title: Efficacies of nisin A and nisin V semipurified preparations alone and in combination with plant essential oils for controlling Listeria monocytogenes.
abstract: The food-borne pathogenic bacterium Listeria is known for relatively low morbidity and high mortality rates, reaching up to 25 to 30%. Listeria is a hardy organism, and its control in foods represents a significant challenge. Many naturally occurring compounds, including the bacteriocin nisin and a number of plant essential oils, have been widely studied and are reported to be effective as antimicrobial agents against spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of semipurified preparations (SPP) containing either nisin A or an enhanced bioengineered derivative, nisin V, alone and in combination with low concentrations of the essential oils thymol, carvacrol, and trans-cinnamaldehyde, to control Listeria monocytogenes in both laboratory media and model food systems. Combinations of nisin V-containing SPP (25 μg/ml) with thymol (0.02%), carvacrol (0.02%), or cinnamaldehyde (0.02%) produced a significantly longer lag phase than any of the essential oil-nisin A combinations. In addition, the log reduction in cell counts achieved by the nisin V-carvacrol or nisin V-cinnamaldehyde combinations was twice that of the equivalent nisin A-essential oil treatment. Significantly, this enhanced activity was validated in model food systems against L. monocytogenes strains of food origin. We conclude that the fermentate form of nisin V in combination with carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde offers significant advantages as a novel, natural, and effective means to enhance food safety by inhibiting food-borne pathogens such as L. monocytogenes.
authors: Department of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland des.field@ucc.ie c.hill@ucc.ie.
authors: Des
authors: D
authors: Field
authors: Department of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: Daly
authors: Teagasc, Moorepark Food Research Centre, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland.
authors: Paula M
authors: PM
authors: O'Connor
authors: Teagasc, Moorepark Food Research Centre, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors: Paul D
authors: PD
authors: Cotter
authors: Department of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland des.field@ucc.ie c.hill@ucc.ie.
authors: Colin
authors: C
authors: Hill
authors: Teagasc, Moorepark Food Research Centre, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors: R Paul
authors: RP
authors: Ross
mesh_terms: D000171:Acrolein / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000081007:Cymenes; D005516:Food Microbiology; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000187:drug effects*; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D009561:Nisin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013943:Thymol / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000081007:Cymenes; D039821:Monoterpenes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D009561:Nisin; D013943:Thymol; D000171:Acrolein; C073316:carvacrol; C102526:nisin A; C012843:cinnamaldehyde