Quantification of anti-quorum sensing and antibiofilm activity of phyllosphere bacteria against food spoilage bacteria

Abstract

Food spoilage and microbial contamination require attention during the food production process since the presence of these bacteria can create problems including the formation of biofilms produced by these bacteria. Biofilm formations are initiated through cell-to-cell communication which is called quorum sensing mechanism. Hence, inhibition of this communication mechanism could be one of the solutions to inhibit biofilm formation. Therefore, exploration of bioactive compounds from various sources including phyllosphere bacteria with anti-quorum sensing inhibition activities is important. Phyllosphere bacteria are a community of bacteria found on the surface of plant leaves at a very large population. These bacteria can produce bioactive compounds that can inhibit quorum sensing mechanism. In this study, 54 phyllosphere bacteria isolates were tested, 8 bacterial isolates had potential effect to inhibit quorum sensing. From biofilm inhibition assay, the highest percentages were showed by different phyllosphere isolates against each pathogen. Whereas, for biofilm destruction assay, JB 8F isolate had the highest percentage of destruction biofilm activity against biofilm formed by Bacillus cereus and Shewanella putrefaciens. Eight isolates of phyllosphere bacteria had the potential as quorum quencher and anti-biofilm agents, both for inhibition and destruction of biofilm.