title: Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of a biofilm-forming Serratia plymuthica isolate from a raw vegetable processing line.
abstract: Recently, we isolated from a raw vegetable processing line a Serratia strain with strong biofilm-forming capacity and which produced N-acyl-L-homoserine lactones (AHLs). Within the Enterobacteriaceae, strains of the genus Serratia are a frequent cause of human nosocomial infections; in addition, biofilm formation is often associated with persistent infections. In the current report, we describe the detailed characterization of the isolate using a variety of genotypic and phenotypic criteria. Although the strain was identified as Serratia plymuthica on the basis of its small subunit ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) gene sequence, it differed from the S. plymuthica type strain in production of pigment and antibacterial compounds, and in AHL production profile. Nevertheless, the identification as S. plymuthica could be confirmed by gyrB phylogeny and DNA:DNA hybridization.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Food Microbiology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 22, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium. rob.vanhoudt@biw.kuleuven.be
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Van Houdt
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moons
authors.forename: An
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: Kristof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vanoirbeek
authors.forename: Chris W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Michiels
mesh_terms: D015107:4-Butyrolactone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D027081:DNA Gyrase / Q000235:genetics; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods*; D005838:Genotype; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012705:Serratia / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014675:Vegetables / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; C088386:homoserine lactone; D027081:DNA Gyrase; D015107:4-Butyrolactone