A centralized database for use in studying bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing in food processing and other environments: MicroBQs

Despite an increasing number of techniques that are designed to mitigate microbial contamination of food and the resulting food borne disease outbreaks, the United States and many other countries across the world continue to experience impressive numbers of such outbreaks. Microbial contamination can occur during activities that take place in the pre-harvest environment or in the processing facility post-harvest. Current treatments of food that are aimed at reducing bacterial numbers may be only partially effective because of the development of bacterial resistance, the formation of bacterial biofilms, and inactivation of the treatment compound by the food products themselves. This Special Issue will include basic research approaches that are aimed at enhancing our understanding of how contamination occurs throughout the food processing chain, as well as more immediate and applied approaches to the development and use of novel anti-microbials to combat microbes in food. Novel techniques that aim to evaluate the efficacy of novel anti-microbials are included. Overall, we present a broad spectrum of novel approaches to reduce microbial contamination on food at all stages of production.

Download Full-text

Early development and quorum sensing in bacterial biofilms

Journal of Mathematical Biology ◽

10.1007/s00285-002-0190-6 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 47 (1) ◽

pp. 23-55 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

John P. Ward ◽

John R. King ◽

Adrian J. Koerber ◽

Julie M. Croft ◽

R. Elizabeth Sockett ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quorum Sensing ◽

Early Development ◽

Bacterial Biofilms

Download Full-text

Formation of multi-species biofilms and their resistance to disinfectants in food processing environments: A review

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/jfp-21-071 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ailing Guo ◽

Qun Li ◽

Ling Liu ◽

Xinshuai Zhang ◽

Wukang Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Safety ◽

Quorum Sensing ◽

Food Processing ◽

Species Interactions ◽

Extracellular Polymeric Substances ◽

Resistance Mechanisms ◽

Signal Molecules ◽

Complex Interactions ◽

Food Safety And Quality

In food processing environments, various microorganisms can adhere and aggregate on the surface of equipment, resulting in the formation of multi-species biofilms. Complex interactions among microorganisms may affect the formation of multi-species biofilms and their resistance to disinfectants, which are food safety and quality concerns. This paper reviews the various interactions among microorganisms in multi-species biofilms, including competitive, cooperative and neutral interactions. Then, the preliminary mechanisms underlying the formation of multi-species biofilms are discussed in relation to factors, such as quorum sensing (QS) signal molecules, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and biofilm-regulated genes. Finally, the resistance mechanisms of common contaminating microorganisms to disinfectants in food processing environments are also summarized. This review is expected to facilitate a better understanding of inter-species interactions, and provide some implications for the control of multi-species biofilms in food processing.

Download Full-text

Quorum sensing and bacterial biofilms

Natural Product Reports ◽

10.1039/b804469b ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 343 ◽

Cited By ~ 211

Author(s):

Jeroen S. Dickschat

Keyword(s):

Quorum Sensing ◽

Bacterial Biofilms

Download Full-text

Sugar-powered nanoantimicrobials for combating bacterial biofilms

Biomaterials Science ◽

10.1039/c9bm00471h ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (7) ◽

pp. 2961-2974 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Min Li ◽

En-Tang Kang ◽

Kim Lee Chua ◽

Koon Gee Neoh

Keyword(s):

Quorum Sensing ◽

Bacterial Biofilms ◽

Modified Cyclodextrin ◽

Quorum Sensing Inhibitor

Sugar-modified cyclodextrin complexed with quorum sensing inhibitor and antibiotics showed enhanced efficacy in preventing and eradicating bacterial biofilms.

Download Full-text