Mikhail Chikindas Associate Professor Rutgers University Department of Food Science 65 Dudley Road School of Env & Biol Sciences New Brunswick. NJ 08901-8520 (732) 932-9611 x218 FAX - 6776 tchikindas@aesop.rutgers.edu

Biology (Microbiology. food safety. bacteriocins)

My current research is focused on natural antimicrobial peptides (bacteriocins) from lactic acid bacteria. I study their mode of action. genetics and safety for application in food preservatives and as antimicrobials for personal care and medical applications. Understanding of the molecular mechanism of their action against pathogens helps to advance my research towards development of multiple antimicrobial hurdles that include antimicrobials of different nature and mechanisms of action. The growing demand for improved safety of extended shelf-life food products triggered my interest to research on condition-controlled and extended time of delivery of antimicrobials. I explore the possibilities for a new generation of molecular vehicles for the delivery of bacteriocins to the required site of action. Environmental (temperature. pH. etc.) changes cause the collapse of these vehicles and/or bacteriocin release over the time. providing extended delivery of antimicrobials into the environment. I study bacteriocins produced by healthy vaginal LAB. In collaboration with a medical doctor. I was the first to isolate some of these molecules and to report on their mechanism of action (manuscript in preparation). Working on natural antimicrobials. I never under-estimate that I am dealing with a "smart" enemy. Therefore. I also study mechanisms of microbial populational adaptation to the stresses. specifically addressing the issue of inter-cellular communication and its role in population survival in the presence of bacteriocins and other natural stresses.

Selected Publications

Murdock, C.A., McEntire, J.C., Matthews, K.M. and Chikindas, M.L. (2007) The synergistic effect of nisin and lactoferrin on the inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157:H7. Letters in Applied Microbiology 44: 255-261.

Tabak, M., Scher, K., Hartog, E., Romling, U., Matthews, K.R, Chikindas, M.L. and Yaron, S. (2007) The effect of triclosan on Salmonella Typhimurium at different growth stages. FEMS Microbiology Letters 267: 200-206.

Gandhi, M. and Chikindas, M. L. (2007) Listeria: A foodborne pathogen that knows how to survive. International Journal of Food Microbiology. 113: 1-15.

Turovskiy Y. Chikindas ML. (2006) Autoinducer-2 bioassay is a qualitative. not quantitative method influenced by glucose. J Microbiol Methods. 66: 497-503.

Bonnet M. Rafi MM. Chikindas ML. Montville TJ. (2006) Bioenergetic mechanism for nisin resistance. induced by the acid tolerance response of Listeria monocytogenes. Appl Environ Microbiol. 72(4):2556-63.

Li J. Aroutcheva AA. Faro S. Chikindas ML. (2005) Mode of action of lactocin 160. a bacteriocin from vaginal Lactobacillus rhamnosus. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 13(3):135-40.

Bauer. R. . Chikindas. M.L. and Dicks. L.M.T. (2005). Purification. partial amino acid sequence and mode of action of pediocin PD-1. a bacteriocin produced by Pediococcus damnosus NCFB 1832. Int J Food Microbiol. 101(1):17-27.

Chi-Zhang. Y.. Yam. K. L. and Chikindas. M.L. (2004). Effective control of Listeria monocytogenes by combination of nisin formulated and slow released into a broth system. Int J Food Microbiol. 90(1):15-22.

McEntire. J. C . Montville. T. J. and Chikindas. M.L. (2003). Synergy between nisin and select lactates against Listeria monocytogenes is due to the metal cations. Journal of Food Protection. 66: 1631-1636.

Li. J.. Kolling. G. L. . Matthews. K. R. and Chikindas. M.L. (2003). Cold and carbon dioxide used as multi-hurdle preservation do not induce appearance of viable but non-culturable Listeria monocytogenes. Journal of Applied Microbiology 94: 48-53.

Cleveland. J.. Chikindas. M. and Montville. T.J. (2002). Multi-method assessment of commercial nisin preparations. Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology 29: 228-232.

Lie. J.. Chikindas. M.L. . Ludescher. R.D. and Montville. T.J. (2002). Environmentally induced modifications alter sensitivity of Listeria monocytogenes to nisin. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 68: 5904-5910.

Rosa. B.D.. Franco. G.M. . Montville. T.J. and Chikindas. M. L. (2002). Purification and mechanistic action of a bacteriocin produced by a Brazilian sausage isolate. Lactobacillus sake. Journal of Food Safety 22: 39-54.

Herranz. C.. Chen. Y.. Chung. H.-J. . Cintas. L. M. . Hernández. P.E. . Montville. T.J. and Chikindas. M. L. (2001). Enterocin P selectively dissipates the membrane potential of Enterococcus faecium T136. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 67: 1689-1692.

Chung. D.. Chikindas. M.L. and Yam. K.L. (2001). Inhibition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by slow release of propyl parabene from a polymer coating. Journal of Food Protection 64: 1420-1424.

Chung. H.-J. . Chikindas. M.L. and Montville. T.J. (2000). Nisin depletes ATP and proton motive force in mycobacteria. Letters in Applied Microbiology 31: 416-420.

Modi. K. D. . Chikindas. M. L. and Montville. T. J. (2000). Sensitivity of nisin-resistant Listeria monocytogenes Scott A to heat and the synergistic action of heat and nisin. Letters in Applied Microbiology 30: 249-253.

Nilsson. L.. Chen. Y.. Chikindas. M. L.. Huss. H. H. . Gram. L. and Montville. T. J. (2000). Carbon dioxide and nisin act synergistically on the cytoplasmic membrane of Listeria monocytogenes. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 66: 769-774.