Biofilm blocking

Pathogenic biofilms are a major food safety challenge. They are difficult to detect and very difficult to control after they form as biofilms protect bacteria from sanitizers, heat and other stressors that might otherwise be used to control the bacteria. As well, trying to remove the biofilm may break off chunks of biofilm which can either contaminate the food or start a new biofilm at another location in the food processing facility. This project is going to investigate the use of non-toxic quorum-sensing inhibitors (QSI) for preventing the incorporation of pathogenic E. coli into multi-species biofilms. Quorum sensing is bacterial communication and essential for biofilm formation. We will evaluate the quantity of biofilm produced before and after treatment with QSI using crystal violet assay. We will look at changes in structure of the biofilm after treatment with QSI using scanning electron microscopy. We will enumerate numbers of pathogenic E. coli present in biofilm before and after treatment with QSI. Finally, we will sequence RNA produced by the biofilm-forming bacteria before and after treatment with QSI for combinations of QSI and biofilm showing greatest and least inhibition. If QSI can prevent pathogens from incorporating in biofilms, the next step would be to evaluate the use of QSI in slaughter plants as an enhancement to existing hygiene protocols. This project will also give us a better understanding of how biofilms form which is currently poorly understood, especially concerning pathogenic E. coli. QSI could be another major leap forward for food safety.

Faculty Supervisor:

Kim Stanford

Student:

Partner:

Beef Cattle Research Council

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

University of Lethbridge

Program: