Bacteria of eleven different species isolated from biofilms in a meat processing environment have diverse biofilm forming abilities.

Biofilms are formed by microorganisms protected by a self-produced matrix, most often attached to a surface. In the food processing environments biofilms endanger the product safety by the transmission of spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. In this study, we characterised the biofilm formation of the following eleven strains isolated from biofilms in a meat-processing environment: Acinetobacter harbinensis BF1, Arthrobacter sp. BF1, Brochothrix thermosphacta BF1, Carnobacterium maltaromaticum BF1, Kocuria salsicia BF1, Lactococcus piscium BF1, Microbacterium sp. BF1, Pseudomonas fragi BF1, Psychrobacter sp. BF1, Rhodococcus erythropolis BF1, Stenotrophomonas sp. BF1. We applied whole- genome sequencing and subsequent genome analysis to elucidate genetic features associated with the biofilm lifestyle. We furthermore determined the motility and studied biofilm formation on stainless steel using a static mono-species biofilm model mimicking the meat processing environment. The biomass and the EPS components carbohydrates, proteins and extracellular DNA (eDNA) of the biofilms were investigated after seven days at 10 °C. Whole-genome analysis of the isolates revealed that all strains except the Kocuria salsicia BF1 isolate, harboured biofilm associated genes, including genes for matrix production and motility. Genes involved in cellulose metabolism (present in 82% of the eleven strains) and twitching motility (present in 45%) were most frequently found. The capacity for twitching was confirmed using plate assays for all strains except Lactococcus piscium BF1, which showed the lowest motility behaviour. Differences in biofilm forming abilities could be demonstrated. The bacterial load ranged from 5.4 log CFU/cm

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