Dual-species biofilm of Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli on stainless steel surface

Author(s)

de Grandi, Aline Zago ^[1] ; Pinto, Uelinton Manoel ^{[1, 2]} ; Destro, Maria Teresa ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Pharmaceut Sci, Dept Food & Expt Nutr, Av Prof Lineu Prestes 580 B14, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Pharmaceut Sci, Food Res Ctr FoRC, Av Prof Lineu Prestes 580 B14, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: WORLD JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY; v. 34, n. 4 APR 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive bacterium commonly associated with foodborne diseases. Due its ability to survive under adverse environmental conditions and to form biofilm, this bacterium is a major concern for the food industry, since it can compromise sanitation procedures and increase the risk of post-processing contamination. Little is known about the interaction between L. monocytogenes and Gram-negative bacteria on biofilm formation. Thus, in order to evaluate this interaction, Escherichia coli and L. monocytogenes were tested for their ability to form biofilms together or in monoculture. We also aimed to evaluate the ability of L. monocytogenes 1/2a and its isogenic mutant strain (Delta prfA Delta sigB) to form biofilm in the presence of E. coli. We assessed the importance of the virulence regulators, PrfA and sigma(B), in this process since they are involved in many aspects of L. monocytogenes pathogenicity. Biofilm formation was assessed using stainless steel AISI 304 \#4 slides immersed into brain heart infusion broth, reconstituted powder milk and E. coli preconditioned medium at 25 degrees C. Our results indicated that a higher amount of biofilm was formed by the wild type strain of L. monocytogenes than by its isogenic mutant, indicating that prfA and sigB are important for biofilm development, especially maturation under our experimental conditions. The presence of E. coli or its metabolites in preconditioned medium did not influence biofilm formation by L. monocytogenes. Our results confirm the possibility of concomitant biofilm formation by L. monocytogenes and E. coli, two bacteria of major significance in the food industry. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/18033-7 - Evaluation of production the autoinducer molecules by Escherichia coli and its influence on biofilm formation by Listeria monocytogenes
• Grantee: Maria Teresa Destro
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/07914-8 - FoRC - Food Research Center
• Grantee: Bernadette Dora Gombossy de Melo Franco
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC