title: Listeria monocytogenes' Step-Like Response to Sub-Lethal Concentrations of Nisin.
abstract: Microbial safety of food products is often accomplished by the formulation of food-grade preservatives into the product. Because of the growing consumer demand for natural substances (including preservatives) in the composition of consumed foods, there is also a growing interest in the natural antimicrobial nisin, which has generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status for certain applications. During the products storage time, concentrations of preservative(s) are decreasing, which may eventually cause a serious problem in the food's microbial safety. Here, for the first time we report on the non-linear response of a foodborne pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes, to sub-lethal concentrations of nisin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 65 Dudley Road, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA. takhistov@aesop.rutgers.edu.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Takhistov
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 65 Dudley Road, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA.
authors.forename: Bernice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: George
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 65 Dudley Road, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA. tchikindas@aesop.rutgers.edu.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Chikindas
keywords: Food preservative; Listeria monocytogenes; Nisin; Stress response; Sub-lethal concentration