Who can join the Riley Lab?

The Riley Lab is an all-undergraduate team based in Amherst, MA. We conventionally only accept undergraduate students studying in the area. However, students can be from a range of years (freshman included), and a variety of majors. Our most important requirements are that students are curious, passionate, and collaborative. If you are not an undergraduate student but still have interest in joining the lab, please contact us directly.

What is a bacteriocin?

A bacteriocin is a protein created by a strain of bacteria that is active against another strain. 

What is nisin?

Nisin is a bacteriocin that is produced by a type of bacteria called Lactococcus lactis. It has been considered GRAS (generally regarded as safe) by the Food and Drug Administration for nearly four decades. Nisin is currently used as a food preservative, though it has the potential to be used in other fields, such as veterinary and human medical applications.

Are bacteriocins also “bacteriophages”?

No! Bacteriophages are viruses that target and invade bacteria, whereas bacteriocins are proteins produced by bacteria themselves.

How are bacteriocins used?

Currently, the use of bacteriocins is mostly limited to food preservation. However, there is promising research that bacteriocins have a much wider range of applications. This includes antimicrobial activity, anticancerous activity, plant growth promotion, and veterinary care. The options are almost limitless!

Why do bacteriocins matter?

Bacteria are gaining resistance to the antibiotics that are in use currently and there has not been a new antibiotic developed since 1987. This means that infections are becoming more difficult, if not impossible, to treat. This is why we need a new type of treatment to help fight this issue.

Are bacteriocins safe for human use?

Bacteriocins have been considered “Generally Regarded As Safe” or GRAS by the Food and Drug Administration since 1986. Safety studies have shown that the minimum concentration of bacteriocins is much lower than the estimated toxic concentration, meaning that they are currently understood to be safe and effective for human use. 

What is an MIC?

MIC stands for “minimum inhibitory concentration”. MIC experiments determine the lowest concentration of an antimicrobial agent (such as a bacteriocin or antibiotic) that prevents visible growth of bacteria in vitro (in glass or plates).