Engineered nisin variants control Listeria in food

What is it about?

There is an increasing need to develop economical, natural, and effective food preservative systems to meet the public demand for convenient, safe, healthy, and nutritious food products. nisin is a 34 amino acid polycyclic peptide that exhibits antibacterial activity against a wide range of food-borne pathogens including Listeria monocytogenes and is widely used as a natural biopreservative in the form nisaplin. Here we demonstrate the ability to provide even greater protection against L. monocytogenes by combining for the first time an enhanced nisin derivative (nisin V) in the form of a fermentate with a selection of essential oils.

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Why is it important?

L. monocytogenes is of particular concern to the food industry. Although listeriosis is a relatively rare disease, mortality rates associated with outbreaks are high. Apart from the risk to human health, food product recalls due to Listeria contamination present an enormous financial burden, estimated to cost between $1.2 and $2.5 billion per year in the United States. Therefore, any new technologies or means to enhance the control of L. monocytogenes in foods are particularly desirable. The enhanced activity of nisin V against L. monocytogenes represents one such technology.