Controling the adhesion of food pathogens on polystyrene surfaces using biosurfactants

• Grant number: 08/10163-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: June 01, 2009
• End date: May 31, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Science
• Principal Investigator: Marcia Nitschke
• Grantee: Marcia Nitschke
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this work is to evaluate the anti-adhesive properties of microbial surface-actice compounds against food pathogens. The biosurfactants selected for this study are surfactin , obtained from Bacillus subtilis, and rhamnolipid, obtained from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The adhesion of Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enteritidis and Staphylococcus aureus will be evaluated on polystyrene surface pre-conditioned with the biosurfactants. The ability of surface-active molecules to disrupt established biofilms of food pathogens will also be performed. Contact angle measurements will be conducted in order to determine the changes promoted by biosurfactants on solid surface. Microbial adhesion to solvents assay will verify the surface characteristics of bacterial cells. (AU)