Attachment and biofilm formation on stainless steel by Escherichia coli O157:H7 as affected by curli production.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the role of curli in attachment and biofilm formation by Escherichia coli O157:H7 on stainless steel.


RESULTS
Three curli-deficient strains (43895-, 43894- and E0018-) and three curli over-producing strains (43895+, 43894+ and E0018+) of E. coli O157:H7 were studied. Stainless steel coupons (SSC) were immersed in cell suspensions of each strain for 24 h at 4 degrees C. The number of cells attached to SSC was determined. To determine the ability of attached cells to form biofilm, SSC were immersed in 10% of tryptic soya broth up to 6 days at 22 degrees C. Curli-deficient and curli-producing strains did not differ in their ability to attach to SSC, but only curli-producing strains formed biofilms.


CONCLUSIONS
Curli production by E. coli O157:H7 does not affect attachment of cells on stainless steel but curli-producing strains are better able to form biofilms.


CONCLUSIONS
Curli production by E. coli O157:H7 enhances its ability to form biofilm on stainless steel, thereby potentially resulting in increased difficulty in removing or killing cells by routine cleaning and sanitizing procedures used in food-processing plants.
Ryu
J-H
JH
Center for Food Safety and Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Georgia, Griffin, GA 30223-1797, USA.
Kim
H
H
Frank
J F
JF
Beuchat
L R
LR
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013193:Stainless Steel
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C489688:csgA protein, E coli; D013193:Stainless Steel; C077481:Crl protein, Bacteria