Interference of sanitizers, NaCl and curing salts on Listeria monocytogenes adhesion and subsequent biofilm formation

Abstract

Significance and Impact of the Study: Listeria monocytogenes, a well-known foodborne pathogen and the causative agent of listeriosis, is highly persistent in food processing environments due to its high adhesion potential in different surfaces. In this study, we aimed to assess how the main stressing conditions usually observed in meat processing facilities (sanitizers, NaCl, curing salts) interfere in L. monocytogenes adhesion and subsequent biofilm development. The development of biofilms by L. monocytogenes was enhanced in the presence of quaternary ammonium-based sanitizer at 4°C.

Biofilm growth by Listeria monocytogenes on stainless steel and expression of biofilm-related genes under stressing conditions

“…Lineage II strains present a signi cant association with resistance to QAC and are more commonly found in food processing environments, compared to lineage I strains (Mereghetti et al 2000;Ferreira et al 2014;Poimenidou et al 2016). In agreement with a previous research (Silva et al 2020), long term persistent strains tested in this study (isolates 19 and 508, from Lineage II) were able to survive and to form bio lms on stainless steel microtiter plates and coupons in the presence of QAC at MIC (Fig. 3).…”

“…monocytogenes isolates (Table 1) were evaluated for adhesion and bio lm formation under stressing conditions on stainless steel microtiter plates. The stressing conditions selected for this study were: (i) curing salts (5, 7.5 and 10%, w/v); (ii) NaCl (5, 7.5 and 10%, w/v), and (iii) quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC) at the concentration of 1:1,024, which corresponded to the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), according to Silva et al (2020).…”