Effect of glucose on Listeria monocytogenes biofilm formation, and assessment of the biofilm's sanitation tolerance

• Published in: Biofouling (Chur, Switzerland) Vol. 32; no. 7; pp. 815 - 826
• Main Authors: Kyoui, Daisuke, Hirokawa, Eri, Takahashi, Hajime, Kuda, Takashi, Kimura, Bon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 08.08.2016
• Subjects: atomic force microscopy; Bacterial Load; biofilm; Biofilms; Biofilms - drug effects; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; extracellular polymeric substance; Food-Processing Industry; Formations; Glucose; Glucose - administration & dosage; Humans; Listeria monocytogenes; Listeria monocytogenes - drug effects; Listeria monocytogenes - physiology; Microscopy, Atomic Force; Sanitation; sanitation tolerance; Sodium hypochlorite; Sodium Hypochlorite - pharmacology; Strategy; Time Factors; Tolerances; Listeria monocytogenes; glucose; extracellular polymeric substance; sanitation tolerance; atomic force microscopy; biofilm
• ISSN: 0892-7014; 1029-2454
• DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2016.1198953

Listeria monocytogenes is an important cause of human foodborne infections and its ability to form biofilms is a serious concern to the food industry. To reveal the effect of glucose conditions on biofilm formation of L. monocytogenes, 20 strains were investigated under three glucose conditions (0.1, 1.0, and 2.0% w v -1 ) by quantifying the number of cells in the biofilm and observing the biofilm structure after incubation for 24, 72, and 168 h. In addition, the biofilms were examined for their sensitivity to sodium hypochlorite. It was found that high concentrations of glucose reduced the number of viable cells in the biofilms and increased extracellular polymeric substance production. Moreover, biofilms formed at a glucose concentration of 1.0 or 2.0% were more resistant to sodium hypochlorite than those formed at a glucose concentration of 0.1%. This knowledge can be used to help design the most appropriate sanitation strategy.