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Current knowledge and perspectives on biofilm formation: the case of Listeria monocytogenes

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Abstract

Listeriosis is a rare, serious, and mainly food-borne infection caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. This food-borne infection primarily affects pregnant women and immunologically compromised individuals. L. monocytogenes is recognized as a problem for the food industry, mainly due to its environmental persistence, attributed in part to its ability to form biofilms. Biofilms are microbial communities adhered to biotic or abiotic surfaces coated by self-produced extracellular polymers. These structures confer protection to bacterial cells and decrease the efficiency of cleaning and disinfection procedures. This article presents a brief review of current perspectives on the formation of biofilms, with emphasis on L. monocytogenes, highlighting the importance of cell-to-cell communication and structural composition of the microbial communities. The techniques currently used to study biofilms and the need to develop new strategies for the prevention and control of biofilm-forming pathogens are also discussed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the State of São Paulo Research Foundation—FAPESP for a research grant (Process 2010/12236-0) and for a master’s fellowship granted to the first author (Process 2011/07062-6). The Laboratório Multiusuário de Microscopia Confocal of Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo is also acknowledged (Process FAPESP 2004/08868-0).

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  1. Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. do Café, s/n, CEP 14040-903, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil

    Eliane Pereira da Silva & Elaine Cristina Pereira De Martinis

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  1. Eliane Pereira da Silva
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  2. Elaine Cristina Pereira De Martinis
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Correspondence to Elaine Cristina Pereira De Martinis.

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da Silva, E.P., De Martinis, E.C.P. Current knowledge and perspectives on biofilm formation: the case of Listeria monocytogenes . Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 97, 957–968 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-012-4611-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-012-4611-1

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