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Although some metallic nanoparticles (NPs) are commonly used in the food processing plants as nanomaterials for food packaging, or as coatings on the food handling equipment, little is known about antimicrobial properties of palladium (PdNPs) and platinum (PtNPs) nanoparticles and their potential use in the food industry. In this study, common food-borne pathogens Salmonella enterica Infantis, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus were tested. Both NPs reduced viable cells with the log10 CFU reduction of 0.3–2.4 (PdNPs) and 0.8–2.0 (PtNPs), average inhibitory rates of 55.2–99% for PdNPs and of 83.8–99% for PtNPs. However, both NPs seemed to be less effective for biofilm formation and its reduction. The most effective concentrations were evaluated to be 22.25–44.5 mg/L for PdNPs and 50.5–101 mg/L for PtNPs. Furthermore, the interactions of tested NPs with bacterial cell were visualized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM visualization confirmed that NPs entered bacteria and caused direct damage of the cell walls, which resulted in bacterial disruption. The in vitro cytotoxicity of individual NPs was determined in primary human renal tubular epithelial cells (HRTECs), human keratinocytes (HaCat), human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs), human epithelial kidney cells (HEK 293), and primary human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs). Due to their antimicrobial properties on bacterial cells and no acute cytotoxicity, both types of NPs could potentially fight food-borne pathogens.

Quorum sensing is a widespread form of cell-to-cell communication, which is based on the production of signaling molecules known as autoinducers (AIs). The first group contains highly species-specific N-acyl homoserine lactones (N-AHLs), generally known as AI-1, which are produced by AHL synthase. The second group, possessing the characteristic structure of a furanone ring, are known as AI-2. The enzyme responsible for their production is S-ribosylhomocysteine lyase (LuxS). In Campylobacter jejuni, AI-2 and LuxS play a role in many important processes, including biofilm formation, stress response, motility, expression of virulence factors, and colonization. However, neither the receptor protein nor the exact structure of the AI-2 molecule have been identified to date. Similarly, little is known about the possible existence of AHL-synthase producing AI-1 and its impact on gene expression. Recently, an analogue of homoserine lactone, called cjA, was isolated from a cell-free supernatant of C. jejuni strain 81–176 and from the food isolate c11. The molecule cjA particularly impacted the expression of virulence factors and biofilm formation. This review summarizes the role of AI-2 and cjA in the context of biofilm formation, motility, stress responses, and expression of virulence factors.

No abstract

Currently, it is clear that the luxS gene has an impact on the process of bio lm formation in Campylobacter jejuni. However, even within the species naturally occurring strains of Campylobacter lacking the luxS gene exist, which can form bio lms. In order to better understand the genetic determinants and the role of quorum sensing through the LuxS/AI-2 pathway in bio lm formation, a set of mutant/complemented strains of C. jejuni 81-176 were prepared. Additionally, the impact of the mutagenic strategy used against the luxS gene was investigated. Bio lm formation was affected by both the presence and absence of the luxS gene, and by the mutagenic strategy used. Analysis by CLSM showed that all mutant strains formed signi cantly less bio lm mass when compared to the wild-type. Interestingly, the deletion mutant (∆luxS) showed a larger decrease in bio lm mass than the substitution (•luxS) and insertional inactivated ( luxS) mutants, even though all the mutant strains lost the ability to produce autoinducer-2 molecules. Moreover, the bio lm of the ∆luxS mutant lacked the characteristic microcolonies observed in all other strains. The complementation of all mutant strains resulted in restored ability to produce AI-2, to form a complex bio lm, and to develop microcolonies at the level of the wild-type.