title: Listeria monocytogenes behaviour in presence of non-UV-irradiated titanium dioxide nanoparticles.
abstract: Listeria monocytogenes is the agent of listeriosis, a food-borne disease. It represents a serious problem for the food industry because of its environmental persistence mainly due to its ability to form biofilm on a variety of surfaces. Microrganisms attached on the surfaces are a potential source of contamination for environment and animals and humans. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are used in food industry in a variety of products and it was reported that daily exposure to these nanomaterials is very high. Anti-listerial activity of TiO2 NPs was investigated only with UV-irradiated nanomaterials, based on generation of reactive oxigen species (ROS) with antibacterial effect after UV exposure. Since both Listeria monocytogenes and TiO2 NPs are veicolated with foods, this study explores the interaction between Listeria monocytogenes and non UV-irradiated TiO2 NPs, with special focus on biofilm formation and intestinal cell interaction. Scanning electron microscopy and quantitative measurements of biofilm mass indicate that NPs influence both production and structural architecture of listerial biofilm. Moreover, TiO2 NPs show to interfere with bacterial interaction to intestinal cells. Increased biofilm production due to TiO2 NPs exposure may favour bacterial survival in environment and its transmission to animal and human hosts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Technology and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ammendolia
authors.affiliation: Department of Technology and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iosi
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment and Primary Prevention, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: De Berardis
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guccione
authors.affiliation: Department of Technology and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Superti
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Conte
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Catia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Longhi
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014025:Titanium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium