Effects of mussel processing soils on the adherence of Listeria monocytogenes to polypropylene and stainless steel

Efficacy of Synthetic Furanones on Listeria monocytogenes Biofilm Formation

Furanones are analogues of acylated homoserine lactones with proven antifouling activity in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria though the interference of various quorum sensing pathways. In an attempt to find new strategies to prevent and control Listeria monocytogenes biofilm formation on stainless steel (SS) surfaces, different concentrations of six synthetic furanones were applied on biofilms formed by strains isolated from food, environmental, and clinical sources grown onto AISI 316 SS coupons. Among the furanones tested, (Z-)-4-Bromo-5-(bromomethylene)-2(5H)-furanone and 3,4-Dichloro-2(5H)-furanone significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the adhesion capacity (>1 log CFU cm-2) in 24 h treated biofilms. Moreover, individually conducted experiments demonstrated that (Z-)-4-Bromo-5-(bromomethylene)-2(5H)-furanone was able to not only significantly (p < 0.05) prevent L. monocytogenes adhesion but also to reduce the growth rate of planktonic cells up to 48 h in a dose-dependent manner. LIVE/DEAD staining followed by epifluorescence microscopy visualisation confirmed these results show an alteration of the structure of the biofilm in furanone-treated samples. Additionally, it was demonstrated that 20 µmol L-1 of 3,4-Dichloro-2(5H)-furanone dosed at 0, 24 and 96 h was able to maintain a lower level of adhered cells (>1 log CFU cm-2; p < 0.05). Since furanones do not pose a selective pressure on bacteria, these results represent an appealing novel strategy for the prevention of L. monocytogenes biofilm grown onto SS.

Biofilm formation of the L. monocytogenes strain 15G01 is influenced by changes in environmental conditions

Listeria monocytogenes 15G01, a strain belonging to the persistent pulsotype 5132, was isolated from a seafood processing plant in New Zealand. Simple monoculture assays using crystal violet staining showed good biofilm formation for this strain and it was therefore chosen to be further investigated in regard to its biofilm forming ability. To evaluate its behaviour in different conditions commonly encountered in food processing environments, biofilm assays and growth studies were performed using common laboratory media under a range of temperatures (20 °C, 30 °C and 37 °C). Furthermore, the effects of incubation time and different environmental conditions including static, dynamic and anaerobic incubation on biofilm formation were investigated. Changes in the environmental conditions resulted in different biofilm phenotypes of L. monocytogenes 15G01. We demonstrated that increasing temperature and incubation time led to a higher biofilm mass and that dynamic incubation has little effect on biofilm formation at 37 °C but encourages biofilm formation at 30 °C. Biofilm production at 20 °C was minimal regardless of the medium used. We furthermore observed that anaerobic environment led to reduced biofilm mass at 30 °C for all tested media but not at 37 °C. Biofilm formation could not be narrowed down to one factor but was rather dependent on multiple factors with temperature and medium having the biggest effects.

Low, medium, and high heat tolerant strains of Listeria monocytogenes and increased heat stress resistance after exposure to sublethal heat

A group of 37 strains representing all 13 serotypes of Listeria monocytogenes with an initial cell density of 10(7) CFU/ml were analyzed for their heat tolerance at 60°C for 10 min. These L. monocytogenes strains were categorized into three heat tolerance groups: low (<2 log CFU/ml survival), medium (2 to 4 log CFU/ml survival), and high (4 to 6 log CFU/ml survival). Serotype 1/2a strains had relatively low heat tolerance; seven of the eight tested strains were classified as low heat tolerant. Of the two serotype 1/2b strains tested, one was very heat sensitive (not detectable) and the other was very heat resistant (5.4 log CFU/ml survival). Among the 16 serotype 4b strains, survival ranged from not detectable to 4 log CFU/ml. When one L. monocytogenes strain from each heat tolerance group was subjected to sublethal heat stress at 48°C for 30 or 60 min, the survival of heat-stressed cells at 60°C for 10 min increased by 5 log CFU/ml (D60°C-values nearly doubled) compared with the nonstressed control cells. Sublethal heat stress at 48°C for 60 or 90 min increased the lag phase of L. monocytogenes in tryptic soy broth supplemented with 0.6% yeast extract at room temperature by 3 to 5 h compared with nonstressed control cells. The heat stress adaptation in L. monocytogenes was reversed after 2 h at room temperature but was maintained for up to 24 h at 4°C. Our results indicate a high diversity in heat tolerance among strains of L. monocytogenes, and once acquired this heat stress adaptation persists after cooling, which should be taken into account while conducting risk analyses for this pathogen.

The effect of ozone and open air factor on surface-attached and biofilm environmental Listeria monocytogenes

AIM

The effects of gaseous ozone and open air factor (OAF) on environmental Listeria monocytogenes attached to three common food contact surfaces were investigated.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Listeria monocytogenes on different food contact surfaces was treated with ozone and OAF. Microbiological counts, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were performed. Ozone at 10 ppm gave <1-log reduction when L. monocytogenes was attached to stainless steel, while 45 ppm gave a log reduction of 3.41. OAF gave better log reductions than 10 ppm ozone, but lower log reductions than 45 ppm. Significant differences were found between surfaces. Biofilm organisms were significantly more resistant than those surface attached on stainless steel. SEM and AFM demonstrated different membrane and cell surface modifications following ozone or OAF treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The strain used demonstrated higher resistance to ozone than previous studies. This may be due to the fact that it was isolated from a food manufacturing premises that used oxidizing disinfectants. OAF was more effective at reducing the levels of the organism than an ozone concentration of 10 ppm.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Pathogen management strategies must account for resistance of environmental strains when validating cleaning and disinfection. OAF has shown potential for surface decontamination compared with ozone. SEM and AFM are valuable tools for determining mechanisms of action of antimicrobial agents.

Microbial pathogen control in the beef chain: recent research advances

Within a recent EU research project ("ProSafeBeef"), research on foodborne pathogens in the beef chain was conducted by using a longitudinally integrated (fork-to-farm) approach. There is not any "single intervention-single chain point" combination by which the pathogens would be reliably and entirely eliminated from the chain resulting in total prevention of pathogens in beef and products thereof at the consumption time. Rather, a range of control interventions have to be applied at multiple points of the chain, so to achieve an acceptable, ultimate risk reduction. Various novel interventions were developed and evaluated during the project, and are briefly summarized in this paper. They include on-farm measures, risk categorisation of cattle presented for slaughter, hygiene-based measures and antimicrobial treatments applied on hides and/or carcasses during cattle slaughter, those applied during beef processing-storage-distribution, use of Time Temperature Integrator-based indicators of safety, and effective sanitation of surfaces.

Initial adhesion of Listeria monocytogenes to solid surfaces under liquid flow

Some strains of the food borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes persist in food processing environments. The exact reason behind this phenomenon is not known, but strain differences in the ability to adhere to solid surfaces could offer an explanation. In the present work, initial adhesion of nine strains of L. monocytogenes was investigated under liquid flow at two levels of shear stress on six different surfaces using a flow chamber set-up with microscopy measurements. The surfaces tested were glass and PVC, and glass coated with beef extract, casein, and homogenised and unhomogenised milk. In addition, the effect of prior environmental stress (5% NaCl, low nutrient availability) on initial adhesion was investigated. The hydrophobicity of the investigated surfaces was determined by contact angle measurements and the surface properties of the investigated L. monocytogenes strains were determined using Microbial Adhesion To Solvents (MATS). All surfaces with the exception of PVC were found to be hydrophilic. Strain differences were found to significantly influence the initial adhesion rate (IAR) of all nine strains to all the surfaces (p<0.05) at both low and high shear stress. Furthermore, there was a significant effect of the surfaces tested (p<0.05) in the adhesion ability of almost all strains. The IAR was affected by flow rate (shear stress) as seen by a decrease in adhesion at high shear stress for most strains. A significant effect of interactions between strain-surface and strain-shear stress (p<0.001) was observed but not of interactions between surface-shear stress. No correlation between surface hydrophobicity and IAR was observed. Addition of 5% NaCl during propagation resulted in a decrease in IAR whilst propagation in low nutrient media caused an increase indicating a general change in surface characteristics under these conditions. Known persisting strains did not display general better adherence.

Comparison between the resistance of benzalkonium chloride-adapted and -nonadapted biofilms of Listeria monocyogenes to modified atmosphere packaging and nisin once transferred to mussels

Benzalkonium chloride-adapted and -nonadapted Listeria monocytogenes biofilm cells were transferred by contact to cooked or live mussels and packed in rich CO(2) and O(2), respectively. The viabilities of transferred cells during storage of these packed samples at 2.5 °C were compared. In addition, in cooked mussels the combined effect of CO(2) and nisin against the survival of L. monocytogenes was also studied by using a first-order factorial design. The results obtained demonstrated that biofilms formed by benzalkonium chloride-adapted L. monocytogenes cells could be more resistant to the application of modified atmospheres rich in CO(2) and nisin once they have been transferred to cooked mussels by contact (simulating cross-contamination). This implies an increase in the risk associated with the presence of these cells in food processing plants. Significant empirical equations obtained after 7, 11, and 20 days showed an inhibitory effect of CO(2) and nisin against L. monocytogenes. However, a significant positive interaction between both variables highlights an incompatibility between CO(2) and nisin at high concentrations. Results also demonstrated that L. monocytogenes could persist after cross-contamination during the processing of live mussels, so L. monocytogenes is of concern as a contaminant in live mussels packaged in high-O(2) atmospheres.

Resistance to benzalkonium chloride, peracetic acid and nisin during formation of mature biofilms by Listeria monocytogenes

Increase of resistance to the application of benzalkonium chloride (BAC), peracetic acid (PA) and nisin during biofilm formation at 25 °C by three strains of Listeria monocytogenes (CECT 911, CECT 4032, CECT 5873 and BAC-adapted CECT 5873) in different scenarios was compared. For this purpose, resistance after 4 and 11-days of biofilm formation was quantified in terms of lethal dose 90% values (LD(90)), determined according with a dose-response logistic mathematical model. Microscopic analyses after 4 and 11-days of L. monocytogenes biofilm formation were also carried out. Results demonstrated a relation between the microscopic structure and the resistance to the assayed biocides in matured biofilms. The worst cases being biofilms formed by the strain 4032 (in both stainless steel and polypropylene), which showed a complex "cloud-type" structure that correlates with the highest resistance of this strain against the three biocides during biofilm maturation. However, that increase in resistance and complexity appeared not to be dependent on initial bacterial adherence, thus indicating mature biofilms rather than planctonic cells or early-stage biofilms must be considered when disinfection protocols have to be optimized. PA seemed to be the most effective of the three disinfectants used for biofilms. We hypothesized both its high oxidizing capacity and low molecular size could suppose an advantage for its penetration inside the biofilm. We also demonstrated that organic material counteract with the biocides, thus indicating the importance of improving cleaning protocols. Finally, by comparing strains 5873 and 5873 adapted to BAC, several adaptative cross-responses between BAC and nisin or peracetic acid were identified.