Efficiency of different sanitation methods on Listeria monocytogenes biofilms formed under various environmental conditions

The resistance of Listeria monocytogenes biofilms formed under food processing conditions, against various sanitizing agents and disinfection procedures was evaluated in the present study. The first sanitation procedure included biofilm formation on stainless steel coupons (SS) placed in tryptic soy broth supplemented with 0.6% yeast extract (TSBYE) of various concentrations of NaCl (0.5, 7.5 and 9.5%) at different temperatures (5 and 20 °C). The biofilms formed were exposed to warm (60 °C) water for 20 min, or to peroxyacetic acid (2% PAA) for 1, 2, 3 and 6 min. Treatment with warm water caused no significant (P ≥ 0.05) reductions in the attached populations. Conversely, surviving bacteria on SS coupons decreased as the exposure time to 2% PAA increased and could not be detected by culture after 6 min of exposure. Biofilms formed at 20°C were more resistant to PAA than biofilms formed at 5 °C. Salt concentration in the growth medium had no marked impact on the resistance to PAA. The second sanitation procedure included biofilm formation of nonadapted (NA) and acid-adapted (AA) cells in TSBYE of pH 5.0 and 7.0 (i.e., NA-5.0, NA-7.0 and AA-5.0, AA-7.0) at 4 °C. Coupons bearing attached cells of L. monocytogenes were periodically exposed to chlorine (0.465% Cl(-)), quaternary ammonium compound (1% QAC) and 2% PAA. The resistance of attached cells to QAC, PAA and Cl(-) followed the order: AA-5.0>NA-7.0 ≥ AA-7.0>NA-5.0. The most effective sanitizer was QAC followed by PAA and Cl(-). The results can lead to the development of efficient sanitation strategies in order to eliminate L. monocytogenes from the processing environment. Furthermore, such results may explain the presence of L. monocytogenes after sanitation as a result of cell attachment history.     

Cell viability of Listeria monocytogenes biofilms

Several authors have reported biofilm formation by Listeria monocytogenes, and it is suspected that biofilms form a unique niche for extended survival of this foodborne pathogen in food-processing environments. We have evaluated growth of two L. monocytogenes strains (Murray and 7148) in biofilms and analysed the relationship between culturable and viable-but-non-culturable (VBNC) cells. Biofilms were grown on glass slides in static conditions at 37°C for up to 10 days. Culturable cells for L. monocytogenes Murray grew to 10⁵cfu cm⁻²within 2 days, while L. monocytogenes 7148 required 4 days to reach these cell numbers. After 2 days, cell counts of L. monocytogenes Murray decreased, followed by another increase with cell numbers reaching almost 10⁶cfu cm⁻²on day 10. In contrast, cell counts of L. monocytogenes 7148 stayed close to 10⁵cfu cm⁻²until day 10. VBNC cells of L. monocytogenes Murray increased with biofilm age while this was not seen for strain 7148. Also, swabbing removed biofilms of strain Murray more easily than strain 7148. Comparisons of viable counts obtained for swabbed and in situ biofilms indicated that these strain differences are due either to variable composition of extracellular polymeric substances in the two biofilms or to different cell physiology of the two strains.     

Formation of biofilm at different nutrient levels by various genotypes of Listeria monocytogenes

Strains of Listeria monocytogenes differ in their ability to form biofilms. The objectives of this study were to determine whether genetically related strains have similar biofilm-forming capacities and what effect nutrient concentration has on the ability of different strains to produce biofilms. Biofilms of 30 strains of L. monocytogenes, obtained from a variety of sources were grown on stainless steel in tryptic soy broth (TSB) or in a 1:10 dilution of TSB (DTSB) for 24 h at 32 degrees C. The amount of biofilm formed was determined with image analysis after cells were stained with bisBenzimide H 33258 (Hoechst 33258). The strains were genetically subtyped by repetitive element sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) with the primer set rep-PRODt and rep-PROG5. Data were analyzed with an analysis of variance and Duncan's multiple range test. Eleven strains produced the same amount of biofilm in both media. Fourteen strains produced more biofilm in TSB than in DTSB. Five strains produced more biofilm in DTSB than in TSB. Serotype 4b strains produced more biofilm in TSB than did serotype 1/2a strains, whereas serotype 1/2a strains produced more biofilm in DTSB than did serotype 4b strains. Growth in DTSB resulted in decreased biofilm accumulation for serotype 4b strains. There was no correlation between genetic subtype and the amount of biofilm accumulation. These results indicate that strains of serotype 1/2a and serotype 4b differ in the regulation of their biofilm phenotype. The poor biofilm accumulation of serotype 4b isolates when grown in DTSB could be a factor in the predominance of serogroup 1/2 strains in food processing plants, where nutrients may be limited.     

Modelling the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in dynamic conditions

A recurrent neural network for the prediction of Listeria monocytogenes growth under pH and a(w) variable conditions was developed. The use of this model offered the possibility to take into account the consequences of the variations of the factors on L. monocytogenes growth. The effects of solutions, such as NaCl, acetic acid and NaOH, and their interactions on the response of L. monocytogenes cells were studied. Furthermore, the results showed the capacity of the recurrent neural network to predict growths carried out in different experimental conditions without using those used for its elaboration.     

Inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes/Pseudomonas biofilms by peracid sanitizers.

The ability of peracetic acid and peroctanoic acid sanitizers to inactivate mixed-culture biofilms of a Pseudomonas sp. and Listeria monocytogenes on stainless steel was investigated. Types of biofilms tested included a 4-h attachment of the mixed-cell suspension and a 48-h biofilm of mixed culture formed in skim milk or tryptic soy broth. Biofilm-containing coupons were immersed in solutions of hypochlorite, peracetic acid, and peroctanoic acid either with or without organic challenge. Organic challenge consisted of either coating the biofilms with milk that were then allowed to dry, or adding milk to the sanitizing solution to achieve a 5% concentration. Surviving cells were enumerated by pouring differential agar directly on the treated surfaces. The peracid sanitizers were more effective than chlorine for inactivating biofilm in the presence of organic challenge. The 48-h mixed-culture biofilm grown in milk was reduced to less than 3 CFU/cm2 by 160 ppm of peracid sanitizer after 1 min of exposure. Peroctanoic acid was more effective than peracetic acid against biofilm cells under conditions of organic challenge. Pseudomonas and L. monocytogenes were inactivated to similar levels by the sanitizer treatments, even though Pseudomonas predominated in the initial biofilm population.     

接种量对单增李斯特菌生长期及生长界面的影响

为了初步了解接种量对单增李斯特菌生长状况及生长/非生长界面的影响,本实验对单增李斯特菌在0、4、10、25℃下通过培养菌液在600nm下的吸光光度值对其生长周期曲线分别进行了测定,并分析了不同接种量的单增李斯特菌菌液在25℃下的生长周期状况,探讨了纯培养条件下不同盐度和pH下,接种量对单增李斯特菌生长/非生长状况的影响。结果表明:不同的温度下,单增李斯特菌的生长周期有很大的差别;而在相同温度下,接种量对单增李斯特菌的生长周期有较大的影响,随着接种水平的降低,菌种生长所需的延滞时间越长,接种量为107CFU/mL时,其生长延滞期为0~4h,而当接种量减少为10CFU/mL时,其生长延滞期为0~16h;而对于单增李斯特菌的生长/非生长界面而言,接种量对其也有一定的影响,但其作用机制还有待进一步深入的研究。      

不同条件下Camembert奶酪中无毒害李斯特菌空间生长分布

研究了在Camembert奶酪成熟过程中无毒害李斯特菌存活和生长的能力。用含有5lgCFU/mL无毒害李斯特菌的巴氏灭菌全脂牛奶精心制备Camembert奶酪。所有Camembert奶酪在以下三种情况下成熟:室温(约20℃)和相对湿度60%(36h);12℃、相对湿度93%(2周);7℃、相对湿度85%(3周)。在成熟过程中,分别在1、5、10、15、20、25、30、35d时,利用选择性培养基对奶酪表面和内部的无毒害李斯特菌进行计数。结果显示,在成熟第1d时,无毒害李斯特菌数量为7.16lgCFU/g,比初始值的4.76lgCFU/g增加了2.40lgCFU/g;而在第20d时,无毒害李斯特菌数量降低至6.54lgCFU/g;在第35d时,李斯特菌数量增加至7.38lgCFU/g。总体而言,无毒害李斯特菌在奶酪表面的生长快于中心位置。      

环境因素促进单增李斯特菌生物被膜的形成

本实验研究了在营养正常和贫瘠状态下,环境因素包括p H值、氯化钠、常见碳水化合物及危险罗尔斯通氏菌对单增李斯特菌生物被膜形成的影响,并使用激光扫描共聚焦显微镜(Confocal laser scanning microscope,CLSM)观察单增李斯特菌和危险罗尔斯通氏菌单、双菌种生物被膜。结果表明:弱酸、碱性条件、低浓度的氯化钠以及危险罗尔斯通式菌能显著促进单增李斯特菌形成生物被膜,但与营养正常状态相比,营养贫瘠状态下的生物被膜形成量降低。几种常见碳水化合物(葡萄糖、蔗糖、木糖醇、半乳糖及魔芋精粉)也有一定的促进作用,特别是木糖醇和魔芋精粉,引起的增长率分别高达75.00%和96.67%。CLSM结果表明,单增李斯特菌和危险罗尔斯通氏菌生物被膜的空间结构不同,但活菌数都比较多。致病菌生物被膜的形成会对食品安全构成巨大威胁,而很多环境因素又有增强生物被膜形成的作用,应引起食品生产等行业的关注。     

超声波处理对单核细胞增生性李斯特菌生物被膜的清除效果研究

以单增李斯特菌为具体研究对象,构建单菌种生物被膜研究模型,通过电镜定性检测生物被膜的形成,并在此基础上研究了超声清除技术对生物被膜的分离效果。实验结果表明,超声处理的温度,时间和功率对生物被膜的清除率均呈正增长。通过响应面的双因素交互影响分析和标准回归曲线一次项的偏回归方程系数分析,可以得出三个因素对清除率的影响效果顺序为功率>时间>温度。通过单因素及响应面分析优化工艺,得出最优化的反应方案为:超声功率为250W、温度35℃和时间7min,在此条件下进行验证实验,被膜清除率为96.34%。      

超声波处理对单核细胞增生性李斯特菌生物被膜的清除效果研究

以单增李斯特菌为具体研究对象,构建单菌种生物被膜研究模型,通过电镜定性检测生物被膜的形成,并在此基础上研究了超声清除技术对生物被膜的分离效果。实验结果表明,超声处理的温度,时间和功率对生物被膜的清除率均呈正增长。通过响应面的双因素交互影响分析和标准回归曲线一次项的偏回归方程系数分析,可以得出三个因素对清除率的影响效果顺序为功率时间温度。通过单因素及响应面分析优化工艺,得出最优化的反应方案为:超声功率为250W、温度35℃和时间7min,在此条件下进行验证实验,被膜清除率为96.34%。     

Variability in biofilm production by Listeria monocytogenes correlated to strain origin and growth conditions

This study aimed to identify factors that influence the development of biofilm by Listeria monocytogenes strains and to determine the extent to which biofilm production protects against quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) disinfectant challenge. A total of 95 L. monocytogenes strains were studied and biofilm production was assessed as a function of incubation temperature, media pH, strain origin, serotype, and environmental persistence status. Attachment and biofilm development (inferred by the level of attached biomass) were measured in vitro using a colourimetric 96-well microtitre plate method in nutritive media (Brain-Heart Infusion). Increased biofilm production correlated with increasing temperature and the most acidic, or most alkaline, growth conditions tested. Clinical and environmental (food factory) strains were observed to increase biofilm production at higher and lower incubation temperatures respectively, independent of their rate of planktonic growth. Serotype 1/2a strains produced significantly more biofilm. Biofilm maturity, rather than strain, was correlated with resistance to QAC. Carbohydrate containing exopolymeric material could not be detected in the biofilm of representative strains, and no correlation between strains recovered as persistent food factory contaminants and biofilm production was identified. Although limited to in vitro inference based on the assay system used, our results suggest that environmental conditions determine the level of biofilm production by L. monocytogenes strains, independent of the rate of planktonic growth, and that this may manifest from selection pressures to which a given strain grows optimally.     

Elimination of Listeria monocytogenes biofilms by ozone, chlorine, and hydrogen peroxide

This study evaluated the efficacy of ozone, chlorine, and hydrogen peroxide to destroy Listeria monocytogenes planktonic cells and biofilms of two test strains, Scott A and 10403S. L. monocytogenes was sensitive to ozone (O3), chlorine, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Planktonic cells of strain Scott A were completely destroyed by exposure to 0.25 ppm O3 (8.29-log reduction, CFU per milliliter). Ozone's destruction of Scott A increased when the concentration was increased, with complete elimination at 4.00 ppm O3 (8.07-log reduction, CFU per chip). A 16-fold increase in sanitizer concentration was required to destroy biofilm cells of L. monocytogenes versus planktonic cells of strain Scott A. Strain 10403S required an ozone concentration of 1.00 ppm to eliminate planktonic cells (8.16-log reduction, CFU per milliliter). Attached cells of the same strain were eliminated at a concentration of 4.00 ppm O3 (7.47-log reduction, CFU per chip). At 100 ppm chlorine at 20 degrees C, the number of planktonic cells of L. monocytogenes 10403S was reduced by 5.77 log CFU/ml after 5 min of exposure and by 6.49 log CFU/ml after 10 min of exposure. Biofilm cells were reduced by 5.79 log CFU per chip following exposure to 100 ppm chlorine at 20 degrees C for 5 min, with complete elimination (6.27 log CFU per chip) after exposure to 150 ppm at 20 degrees C for 1 min. A 3% H2O2 solution reduced the initial concentration of L. monocytogenes Scott A planktonic cells by 6.0 log CFU/ml after 10 min of exposure at 20 degrees C, and a 3.5% H2O2 solution reduced the planktonic population by 5.4 and 8.7 log CFU/ml (complete elimination) after 5 and 10 min of exposure at 20 degrees C, respectively. Exposure of cells grown as biofilms to 5% H2O2 resulted in a 4.14-log CFU per chip reduction after 10 min of exposure at 20 degrees C and in a 5.58-log CFU per chip reduction (complete elimination) after 15 min of exposure.     

融合魏斯氏菌对单增李斯特菌生物膜形成的影响

从东北传统酸菜的12株乳酸菌中筛选对单增李斯特菌有较强拮抗作用的低温生长菌株,并分析其对单增李斯特菌生物膜形成的影响.首先测定乳酸菌菌株的低温生长特征和抑菌活性;然后采用定性法和定量法分析乳酸菌菌株对单核细胞增生李斯特菌生物膜形成和形态结构的影响;最终通过生理生化和16S rDNA测序对乳酸菌菌株进行鉴定.结果表明:菌...     

Production of listeriolysin O by Listeria monocytogenes (Scott A) under heat-shock conditions.

Early stationary phase cells of Listeria monocytogenes (Scott A) were examined to determine the effect of heat-shock on the production of listeriolysin O (LLO) during and after resuscitation at 37 degrees C. Cells were subjected to a heat-shock at 48 degrees C for 1 h. Intracellular and extracellular proteins of the heat-shocked cells were assayed for LLO using a microtiter plate hemolysis assay and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunoblotting. Our results showed that significant amounts of LLO are synthesized under heat-shock conditions that are not detected in the extracellular medium by a functional assay. This situation is evident by the absence of hemolytic activity immediately after heat-shock, and may be due to either a lack of excretion or inactivation of the LLO at 48 degrees C once outside the cell. By studying the intracellular and extracellular proteins using SDS-PAGE and immunoblots of the heat-shocked cells, we substantiated an absence of excretion as an operating mechanism. Heat-shocked cells resumed LLO production within 2-4 h of resuscitation at 37 degrees C, achieving an activity level 2-fold higher compared to the controls and 4-fold higher compared to cells immediately after heat-shock. Most likely, the LLO excreted must have been from LLO accumulated in the cells during heat-shock.     

群体感应系统对单增李斯特菌生物被膜形成的影响

以单增李斯特菌（Listeria monocytogenes）为研究对象,分析Agr群体感应系统和LuxS/AI-2系统对其生物被膜形成的调控作用。通过同源重组对LMB33426菌株进行agrD基因以及luxS基因的无痕敲除,比较野生菌株与agrD、luxS基因缺失菌株的生物被膜特性差异。结果表明,与野生株相比,ΔagrD突变株和ΔluxS突变株的生物被膜形成能力下降;ΔagrD突变株的疏水性显著下降,在37 ℃下的泳动能力较野生株增强;群体感应系统基因敲除对菌株的耐药性没有产生较大影响。基因缺失株的构建为进一步研究群体感应系统对单增李斯特菌生物被膜形成的调控机制提供参考,同时为单增李斯特菌的预防控制奠定了基础。     

Bayesian synthesis of a pathogen growth model: Listeria monocytogenes under competition

The Bayesian synthesis method is applied to data from two studies of Listeria monocytogenes grown in broth monocultures to draw inferences about the joint distribution of two Baranyi growth model parameters-lag time and maximum specific growth rate. The resultant joint distribution is then combined with prior distributions for the initial and maximum pathogen density parameters under competitive growth conditions. Finally, the pathogen growth model is updated using the Sampling/Importance Resampling (SIR) algorithm with data on L. monocytogenes growth in competition with natural microflora in fish. Although the latter data provide no information on the stationary phase to directly estimate the maximum pathogen density parameter, combining them with relevant prior information provides a means to characterize L. monocytogenes growth in a food with mixed microbial populations. Based on a specified tolerance for L. monocytogenes growth, the updated model provides a storage time limit for fish held at 5 degrees C, pH 6.8, 43% CO(2), 57% N(2).     

Influence of partial inactivation on growth of Listeria monocytogenes under sub-optimal conditions of increased NaCl concentration or increased acidity

The effect of partial inactivation with lactic acid (LA), liquid chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) and intense light pulses (ILP) on injury and post-treatment growth under increased NaCl concentration and reduced pH values of Listeria monocytogenes strains was investigated. Inactivation levels and the percentage of sub-lethal were dependent upon strain and type of inactivation technique used. Comparison of the mean time-to-detection (TTD) values under suboptimal conditions (increased NaCl concentration or reduced pH) showed that the longest TTD was at every pH observed for the cultures treated with ClO₂, followed by LA and ILP. Under increased NaCl concentration LA treated cells required the longest TTD, followed by ClO₂ and ILP, respectively. Significant difference in TTD between untreated and cultures treated with ClO₂ and LA was observed. Recovery of ILP treated cultures was not always different from untreated cultures. The extended post-treatment effect based on the growth retardation or inhibition of injured cells under sub-optimal conditions is suggested as an important tool in conditioning of microbial food safety.Industrial relevanceSmall and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the European economy. They are a key source of jobs and a breeding ground for implementation of research results. They are however the most sensitive of all to changes in the production practices coming as a consequence of increased consumers' awareness regarding fresh and natural-like foods. In order to respond to the changed consumption pattern, non-heat and so-called mild technologies have emerged. This research as a part of the EU Pathogen Combat project is tailor made to answer some of the burning issues when it comes to “mild” decontamination. Among the more established technologies used here is decontamination with lactic acid, followed by chlorine dioxide. Both are now under the eye of EU policy makers who are seeking relevant facts to adjust or not to adjust EU policy regarding decontamination of foods. Latest EFSA opinions have already pushed these agents forward, but relevant scientific facts were declared missing. Moreover, intense light pulses, as non-chemical alternative to pasteurization have a considerable potential not only in food surface decontamination, but also in the decontamination of packaging materials, industrial surfaces etc. The present research brought new facts into the light that might have a credible influence on understanding pros and cons of lactic acid, chlorine dioxide and intense light pulses as decontamination agents. The post-treatment, based on sublethal injury, effect is suggested as an important extension tool in shelf life extension and safety barrier.     

Growth kinetics of Listeria monocytogenes in broth and beef frankfurters--determination of lag phase duration and exponential growth rate under isothermal conditions

ABSTRACT:  The objective of this study was to develop a new kinetic model to describe the isothermal growth of microorganisms. The new model was tested with Listeria monocytogenes in tryptic soy broth and frankfurters, and compared with 2 commonly used models—Baranyi and modified Gompertz models. Bias factor (BF), accuracy factor (AF), and root mean square errors (RMSE) were used to evaluate the 3 models. Either in broth or in frankfurter samples, there were no significant differences in BF (approximately 1.0) and AF (1.02 to 1.04) among the 3 models. In broth, the mean RMSE of the new model was very close to that of the Baranyi model, but significantly lower than that of the modified Gompertz model. However, in frankfurters, there were no significant differences in the mean RMSE values among the 3 models. These results suggest that these models are equally capable of describing isothermal bacterial growth curves. Almost identical to the Baranyi model in the exponential and stationary phases, the new model has a more identifiable lag phase and also suggests that the bacteria population would increase exponentially until the population approaches to within 1 to 2 logs from the stationary phase. In general, there is no significant difference in the means of the lag phase duration and specific growth rate between the new and Baranyi models, but both are significantly lower than those determined from the modified Gompertz models. The model developed in this study is directly derived from the isothermal growth characteristics and is more accurate in describing the kinetics of bacterial growth in foods.