Abstract
High mortality and hospitalization rates have seen Listeria monocytogenes as a foodborne pathogen of public health importance for many years and of particular concern for high-risk population groups. Food manufactures face an ongoing challenge in preventing the entry of L. monocytogenes into food production environments (FPEs) due to its ubiquitous nature. In addition to this, the capacity of L. monocytogenes strains to colonize FPEs can lead to repeated identification of L. monocytogenes in FPE surveillance. The contamination of food products requiring product recall presents large economic burden to industry and is further exacerbated by damage to the brand. Poor equipment design, facility layout, and worn or damaged equipment can result in Listeria hotspots and biofilms where traditional cleaning and disinfecting procedures may be inadequate. Novel biocontrol methods may offer FPEs effective means to help improve control of L. monocytogenes and decrease cross contamination of food. Bacteriophages have been used as a medical treatment for many years for their ability to infect and lyse specific bacteria. Endolysins, the hydrolytic enzymes of bacteriophages responsible for breaking the cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria, are being explored as a biocontrol method for food preservation and in nanotechnology and medical applications. Antibacterial proteins known as bacteriocins have been used as alternatives to antibiotics for biopreservation and food product shelf life extension. Essential oils are natural antimicrobials formed by plants and have been used as food additives and preservatives for many years and more recently as a method to prevent food spoilage by microorganisms. Competitive exclusion occurs naturally among bacteria in the environment. However, intentionally selecting and applying bacteria to effect competitive exclusion of food borne pathogens has potential as a biocontrol application. This review discusses these novel biocontrol methods and their use in food safety and prevention of spoilage, and examines their potential to control L. monocytogenes within biofilms in food production facilities.
Highlights
Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive, rod shaped, facultative anaerobe capable of causing food borne illnesses in high-risk population groups including the elderly, immune compromised, pregnant women, and neonates (Farber and Peterkin, 1991)
30 % of invasive listeriosis cases lead to mortalities with most requiring hospitalization, and demanding L. monocytogenes can be considered as a food borne pathogen of public health importance (Lomonaco et al, 2015; Véghová et al, 2016)
There have been some encouraging results in the use of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) against L. monocytogenes biofilm cells in laboratory-based experiments (Table 2); very few have been trialed in actual food production environments (FPEs), apart from Zhao et al (2006, 2013)
Summary
Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive, rod shaped, facultative anaerobe capable of causing food borne illnesses in high-risk population groups including the elderly, immune compromised, pregnant women, and neonates (Farber and Peterkin, 1991). Biofilms are composed of numerous cells attached to each other or an abiotic surface surrounded by an extracellular matrix containing a mixture of polysaccharides, proteins, and extracellular DNA (da Silva Fernandes et al, 2015; Fagerlund et al, 2017). This extracellular matrix provides a protective barrier around the internalized microbial cells from desiccation and heat, contributes to increased adhesion, and is a reservoir of nutrients (Colagiorgi et al, 2016). Biofilms typically consist of multiple species that can allow for the colonization of transient strains or provide increased attachment and survival to strains not typically good biofilm formers (Coughlan et al, 2016)
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