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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 PublicationsTabak M, Scher K, Chikindas ML, Yaron S. (2009) The synergistic activity of triclosan and ciprofloxacin on biofilms of Salmonella Typhimurium. FEMS Microbiol Lett. Sep 23. [Epub ahead of print] Riazi S, Wirawan RE, Badmaev V, Chikindas ML. (2009) Characterization of lactosporin, a novel antimicrobial protein produced by Bacillus coagulans ATCC 7050. J Appl Microbiol. 106(4):1370-7. Sutyak KE, Anderson RA, Dover SE, Feathergill KA, Aroutcheva AA, Faro S, Chikindas ML. (2008) Spermicidal activity of the safe natural antimicrobial peptide subtilosin. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 2008:540758. Epub 2008 Oct 9. Dover SE, Aroutcheva AA, Faro S, Chikindas ML. (2007) Safety study of an antimicrobial peptide lactocin 160, produced by the vaginal Lactobacillus rhamnosus. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 2007:78248. Riazi S, Dover S, Turovskiy Y, Chikindas ML. (2007) Commercial ampholytes used for isoelectric focusing may interfere with bioactivity based purification of antimicrobial peptides. J Microbiol Methods. 71(1):87-9. Turovskiy Y, Kashtanov D, Paskhover B, Chikindas ML. (2007) Quorum sensing: fact, fiction, and everything in between. Adv Appl Microbiol. 62:191-234. Badaoui NM, Chikindas M, Montville TJ. (2007) Changes in Listeria monocytogenes membrane fluidity in response to temperature stress. Appl Environ Microbiol. 73(20):6429-35. 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. |
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