Find in Library

<i>Vibrio parahaemolyticus</i> is a widespread foodborne pathogen that causes serious seafood-borne gastrointestinal infections. Biofilm and quorum sensing (QS) are critical in regulating these infections. In this study, first, the ability of <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> Z057 to compete, exclude, and displace <i>V. parahaemolyticus</i> biofilm was evaluated. Then, the inhibitory effects of <i>L. plantarum</i> Z057 extract (Z057-E) on <i>V. parahaemolyticus</i> biofilm and QS were explored from the aspects of biofilm biomass, metabolic activity, physicochemical properties, extracellular polymer matrix content, QS signal AI-2 activity, biofilm microstructure, and the expression levels of biofilm and QS-related genes. Results showed that <i>L. plantarum</i> Z057 effectively inhibited biofilm formation of <i>V. parahaemolyticus</i> and interfered with the adhesion of <i>V. parahaemolyticus</i> on the carrier surface. In addition, the Z057-E could significantly reduce the biofilm biomass, metabolic activity, hydrophobicity, auto-aggregation ability, swimming and swarming migration diameter, AI-2 activity, extracellular polysaccharide (EPS), and extracellular protein content of <i>V. parahaemolyticus</i>. Fluorescence microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images demonstrated that the Z057-E could efficiently inactivate the living cells, destroy the dense and complete biofilm architectures, and reduce the essential component of the extracellular polymer matrix. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR revealed that the Z057-E treatment down-regulated the expression of flagellum synthesis-related genes (<i>flaA</i>, <i>flgM</i>), EPS, and extracellular protein synthesis-related genes (<i>cpsA</i>, <i>cpsQ</i>, <i>cpsR</i>, <i>ompW</i>), QS-related genes (<i>luxS</i>, <i>aphA</i>, <i>opaR</i>), and hemolysin secretion-related genes (<i>toxS</i>, <i>toxR</i>) of <i>V. parahaemolyticus</i>. Thus, our results suggested that <i>L. plantarum</i> Z057 could represent an alternative biocontrol strategy against foodborne pathogens with anti-adhesive, antibiofilm, and antiquorum sensing activities.