title: Variability in biofilm formation correlates with hydrophobicity and quorum sensing among Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates from food contact surfaces and the distribution of the genes involved in biofilm formation.
abstract: Vibrio parahaemolyticus is one of the leading foodborne pathogens causing seafood contamination. Here, 22 V. parahaemolyticus strains were analyzed for biofilm formation to determine whether there is a correlation between biofilm formation and quorum sensing (QS), swimming motility, or hydrophobicity. The results indicate that the biofilm formation ability of V. parahaemolyticus is positively correlated with cell surface hydrophobicity, autoinducer (AI-2) production, and protease activity. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) showed that strong-biofilm-forming strains established thick 3-D structures, whereas poor-biofilm-forming strains produced thin inconsistent biofilms. In addition, the distribution of the genes encoding pandemic clone factors, type VI secretion systems (T6SS), biofilm functions, and the type I pilus in the V. parahaemolyticus seafood isolates were examined. Biofilm-associated genes were present in almost all the strains, irrespective of other phenotypes. These results indicate that biofilm formation on/in seafood may constitute a major factor in the dissemination of V. parahaemolyticus and the ensuing diseases.
authors.affiliation: a School of Food Science and Technology , Chung-Ang University , Anseong , South Korea.
authors.forename: Md Furkanur Rahaman
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Mizan
authors.affiliation: a School of Food Science and Technology , Chung-Ang University , Anseong , South Korea.|b Department of Microbiology , Jessore University Science and Technology , Jessore , Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Iqbal Kabir
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Jahid
authors.affiliation: a School of Food Science and Technology , Chung-Ang University , Anseong , South Korea.
authors.forename: Minhui
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: a School of Food Science and Technology , Chung-Ang University , Anseong , South Korea.
authors.forename: Ki-Hoon
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: c Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion , Mississippi State University , Mississippi , USA.
authors.forename: Tae Jo
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: a School of Food Science and Technology , Chung-Ang University , Anseong , South Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Do
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Ha
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D053038:Quorum Sensing; D017747:Seafood / Q000382:microbiology; D014736:Vibrio parahaemolyticus / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Vibrio parahaemolyticus; biofilm formation; correlation; gene distribution; quorum sensing