Biofilm formation and acyl homoserine lactone production in Hafnia alvei isolated from raw milk

• Published in: Biological research Vol. 42; no. 4; pp. 427 - 436
• Main Authors: Viana, Eliseth Souza, Campos, Maria Emilene Martino, Ponce, Adriana Reis, Mantovani, Hilário Cuquetto, Vanetti, Maria Cristina Dantas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Sociedad de Biología de Chile 2009; BMC
• Subjects: acyl homoserines lactones; Acyl-Butyrolactones - metabolism; Animals; biofilm; Biofilms - growth & development; BIOLOGY; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Food Microbiology; furanones; Hafnia alvei - isolation & purification; Hafnia alvei - metabolism; Hafnia alvei - ultrastructure; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Milk - microbiology; quorum sensing; Quorum Sensing - drug effects; acyl homoserines lactones; furanones; quorum sensing; biofilm
• ISSN: 0716-9760; 0717-6287; 0716-9760
• DOI: 10.4067/S0716-97602009000400004

The objective of this study was to detect the presence of acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs), signal molecules of the quorum sensing system in biofilm formed by Hafnia alvei strains. It also evaluated the effect of synthetic quorum sensing inhibitors in biofilm formation. AHLs were assayed using well diffusion techniques, thin layer chromatography (TLC) and detection directly in biofilm with biomonitors. The extracts obtained from planktonic and sessile cell of H. alvei induced at least two of three monitor strains evaluated. The presence of AHLs with up to six carbon atoms was confirmed by TLC. Biofilm formation by H. alvei was inhibited by furanone, as demonstrated by 96-well assay of crystal violet in microtitre plates and by scanning electron microscopy. The H. alvei 071 hall mutant was deficient in biofilm formation. All these results showed that the quorum sensing system is probably involved in the regulation of biofilm formation by H. alvei.