The role of non-ionic surfactant-extracellular polymeric substances in removal of Listeria monocytogenes biofilm formed on different contact surfaces

The occurrence of biofilm in food processing environments can lead to spoilage and transmission of diseases, this aided in the development of this study. Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and possibly fatal illnesses in humans and animals after ingestion the contaminated food. Spinach can be contaminated by L. monocytogenes during harvest. The effectiveness of six nonionic surfactants (Pluronic F68, Pluronic F127, Tween 20, Tween 40, Tween 80, and Brij 58) were evaluated in disrupting L. monocytogenes biofilms on the surface of spinach leaves. Wells were washed with surfactants after incubation and then mixed on a platform shaker for 1, 5, 15, and 30 min. Then, the wells were rinsed with distilled water to remove dead cells, and fixation was conducted at 30 min at 60 °C. Our findings showed that Brij 58 most effectively removed the L. monocytogenes biofilm on spinach, followed by Pluronic F127, Tween 80, Tween 40, Tween 20, and Pluronic F68.In the second experiment, the effectiveness of different types of nonionic surfactants such as Pluronic F68, Pluronic F127, Tween 20, Tween 40, Tween 80 and Brij 58 against the Listeria monocytogenes biofilm cells formed on food contact surfaces made of Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Low-Density Polyethylene and Polypropylene (LDPE-PP), Low-Density Polyethylene and Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (LDPE-EVA), Stainless-Steel and Aluminum was determined.Acridine Orange staining (AOS) to quantify the amount of the L. monocytogenes biofilm cells that were destroyed by the nonionic surfactants after different time intervals of 1, 5, 15 and 30 min.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical referencesby Firas S. Albayat