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Effect of small chain N acyl homoserine lactone quorum sensing signals on biofilms of food-borne pathogens

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Abstract

Quorum sensing or cell to cell communication which includes inter- and intra-cellular communication has been implicated in the production of virulence factor and formation of biofilm in food-borne pathogens. In the present study, the effect of quorum sensing signals on the biofilms of food-borne pathogens has been elucidated. N-butryl homoserine lactone and N-hexanoyl homoserine lactone belonging to acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) family of signaling molecules were investigated for their effect on the biofilm formation (attachment and exopolymeric substance production) in the food-borne pathogens Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and Vibrio parahemolyticus. The signaling molecules at a concentration of 1 µM were capable of increasing biofilm formation in all the tested pathogens. There was an increase in the attachment of the bacterial cells and biomass as observed by microtiter plate assay and exopolymeric substances production in the biofilms in presence of the AHLs. Further, it needs to be elucidated if the effect of AHLS on the biofilms of E. coli and S. enterica serovar Typhimurium is SdiA dependent.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research through the Senior Research Fellowship (F.No. 80/709/2011-ECD-I dated 21/06/2012).

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  1. Department of Studies in Microbiology, University of Mysore, Mysore, 570 006, India

    Jamuna Bai A. & Ravishankar Rai V.

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  1. Jamuna Bai A.
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  2. Ravishankar Rai V.
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Correspondence to Ravishankar Rai V..

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A., J.B., V., R.R. Effect of small chain N acyl homoserine lactone quorum sensing signals on biofilms of food-borne pathogens. J Food Sci Technol 53, 3609–3614 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-016-2346-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-016-2346-1

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