Sylvia Kalli

Sylvia Kalli is a Researcher at Wageningen University & Research specializing in natural products chemistry and antimicrobial research. She leads the Natural Toxins team with focus on prenylated (iso)flavonoids for food safety applications and combating antibiotic resistance through EU-funded projects.

Education:

• PhD from Wageningen University (2021)

Her research centers on antimicrobial mechanisms of plant-derived compounds against pathogens like MRSA and food spoilage microorganisms. She investigates cellular targets, membrane interactions, and molecular properties of flavonoids to develop natural alternatives for food preservation and antimicrobial therapy.

Recent publications demonstrate consistent focus on prenylated (iso)flavonoids' dual antibacterial/antifungal activity. Her work bridges microbiology, natural products chemistry, and food science with emphasis on practical applications for sustainable agriculture and food safety.

She leads six research projects including EU-24033 LEGENDARY (2024-2028) and EU-21031 CROPDIVA (2024-2025), exploring climate-resilient crops and intercropping systems to reduce synthetic antimicrobial dependence.

As Natural Toxins team lead, she directs interdisciplinary research on plant toxin applications in sustainable food systems through collaborations with University of Nottingham and European research consortia.