title: Biofilm-associated persistence of food-borne pathogens.
abstract: Microbial life abounds on surfaces in both natural and industrial environments, one of which is the food industry. A solid substrate, water and some nutrients are sufficient to allow the construction of a microbial fortress, a so-called biofilm. Survival strategies developed by these surface-associated ecosystems are beginning to be deciphered in the context of rudimentary laboratory biofilms. Gelatinous organic matrices consisting of complex mixtures of self-produced biopolymers ensure the cohesion of these biological structures and contribute to their resistance and persistence. Moreover, far from being just simple three-dimensional assemblies of identical cells, biofilms are composed of heterogeneous sub-populations with distinctive behaviours that contribute to their global ecological success. In the clinical field, biofilm-associated infections (BAI) are known to trigger chronic infections that require dedicated therapies. A similar belief emerging in the food industry, where biofilm tolerance to environmental stresses, including cleaning and disinfection/sanitation, can result in the persistence of bacterial pathogens and the recurrent cross-contamination of food products. The present review focuses on the principal mechanisms involved in the formation of biofilms of food-borne pathogens, where biofilm behaviour is driven by its three-dimensional heterogeneity and by species interactions within these biostructures, and we look at some emergent control strategies.
authors.affiliation: Irstea, UR HBAN, Antony, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bridier
authors.affiliation: Inra, UMR 1319 Micalis, Jouy-en-Josas, France; AgroParisTech, UMR Micalis, Massy, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Vizuete
authors.affiliation: Inra, UMR 1319 Micalis, Jouy-en-Josas, France; AgroParisTech, UMR Micalis, Massy, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guilbaud
authors.affiliation: Inra, UMR 1319 Micalis, Jouy-en-Josas, France; AgroParisTech, UMR Micalis, Massy, France.
authors.forename: J-C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Piard
authors.affiliation: Inra, UMR 1319 Micalis, Jouy-en-Josas, France; AgroParisTech, UMR Micalis, Massy, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naïtali
authors.affiliation: Inra, UMR 1319 Micalis, Jouy-en-Josas, France; AgroParisTech, UMR Micalis, Massy, France. Electronic address: romain.briandet@jouy.inra.fr.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Briandet
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D018441:Biofilms; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans
keywords: Biocide tolerance; Biofilm; Food-borne pathogens; In-situ microscopy; Interspecies interactions; Spatial modelling