Significance and application of quorum sensing in food microbiology

Abstract

Food spoilage and food borne diseases are still a significant problem even with the application of contemporary food preservation techniques. Microbial spoilage of food has led to serious public health consequences and led to the emergence of multi drug resistant strains. Quorum signaling mechanism in many of these spoilage and pathogenic bacteria for the management of phenotypic characteristics, including virulence determination has been well documented. Appreciating the knowledge on microbial ecosystem of food and their QS mediated signaling mechanism may aid in combating the microbial infections in food and food processing industries. Owing to abundant literatures on basics of quorum sensing, in this chapter we have narrowed down to microbial ecosystem of food, food borne pathogens and their QS regulatory mechanism. In addition, we have also attempted to throw up light on (i) quorum signals in food spoilage, (ii) QS mediated biofilms in food and food processing industries, (iii) detection of food spoilage using QS-biosensors and, (iv) several food based QS inhibitors (QSIs) as food preservatives and eventual approach which has to be given interest to further reveal the underlying mechanism of QS signaling in food system and potential food based QS inhibitors for the management of microbial infections as a novel food intervention strategy to ensure food safety and quality.