Biofilms in the Spotlight: Detection, Quantification, and Removal Methods

Microorganisms can colonize and subsequently form biofilms on surfaces, which protect them from adverse conditions and make them more resistant than their planktonic free‐living counterparts. This is a major concern in the food industry because the presence of biofilms has significant implications f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Comprehensive reviews in food science and food safety 2018-09, Vol.17 (5), p.1261-1276
Main Authors: González‐Rivas, Fabián, Ripolles‐Avila, Carolina, Fontecha‐Umaña, Fabio, Ríos‐Castillo, Abel Guillermo, Rodríguez‐Jerez, José Juan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bacteria
bacterial adhesion
Biofilms
control strategies
Food
Food contamination
Food industry
Food processing
Food quality
Foodborne diseases
Hygiene
Microbial contamination
quorum sensing
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Summary:Microorganisms can colonize and subsequently form biofilms on surfaces, which protect them from adverse conditions and make them more resistant than their planktonic free‐living counterparts. This is a major concern in the food industry because the presence of biofilms has significant implications for microbial food contamination and, therefore, for the transmission of foodborne diseases. Adequate hygienic conditions and various preventive and control strategies have consequently been developed to ensure the provision of safe, good‐quality food with an acceptable shelf‐life. This review focuses on the significance of biofilms in the food industry by describing the factors that favor their formation. The interconnected process among bacteria known as “quorum sensing,” which plays a significant role in biofilm development, is also described. Furthermore, we discuss recent strategic methods to detect, quantify, and remove biofilms formed by pathogenic bacteria associated with food processing environments, focusing on the complexity of these microbial communities.
ISSN:1541-4337
1541-4337
DOI:10.1111/1541-4337.12378