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ARS Home » Plains Area » College Station, Texas » Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center » Food and Feed Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #365970
Research Project: Identification of the Ecological Niches and Development of Intervention Strategies to Reduce Pathogenic Foodborne Pathogens in Poultry

Location: Food and Feed Safety Research

Title: Short communication: Preliminary differences identified in genes responsible for biofilm formation in poultry isolates of Salmonella enterica Heidelberg, Enteritidis, and Kentucky

Author
item SHI, ZHAOHAO - University Of Arkansas
item DITTOE, DANA - University Of Arkansas
item Feye, Kristina
item Kogut, Michael - Mike
item RICKE, STEVEN - University Of Arkansas

Submitted to: Microorganisms
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/29/2019
Publication Date: 7/9/2019
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/6545999
Citation: Shi, Z., Dittoe, D.K., Feye, K.M., Kogut, M.H., Ricke, S.C. 2019. Short communication: Preliminary differences identified in genes responsible for biofilm formation in poultry isolates of Salmonella enterica Heidelberg, Enteritidis, and Kentucky. Microorganisms. 7(7):1-11. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms7070196.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms7070196

Interpretive Summary: Biofilms are the sticky films present on the surfaces of poultry processing systems which are very similar to cooking surfaces that have not been cleaned in your home. They are very difficult to remove. In order to understand how these biofilms form, we looked at two genes responsible for the formation of the biofilm. Through our preliminary investigation, we were able to determine that the different kinds of Salmonella commonly associated with poultry use these genes differently. This could be important information because it may explain why some Salmonella are easier to clean off surfaces than others, and might lead to the development of new antimicrobials.

Technical Abstract: The formation of biofilms in poultry processing plants, especially as it relates to Salmonella contamination, can be a food safety concern. Salmonella enterica is one of the most prevalent and varied foodborne pathogens. The diversity in Salmonella serovar types results in the colonization of many types of hosts due to different environmental conditions and hazards. The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in gene expression (bcsA and csgD) of Salmonella enterica serovars Heidelberg, Kentucky, and Enteritidis during biofilm formation using quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Overall, there appeared to be differences in expression between the serovars with a high variation between strains. This data is important as it demonstrates considerable variability in gene expression between serovars and strains of poultry isolates of Salmonella enterica.