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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania » Eastern Regional Research Center » Characterization and Interventions for Foodborne Pathogens » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #367749
Research Project: Advanced Development of Innovative Technologies and Systematic Approaches to Foodborne Hazard Detection and Characterization for Improving Food Safety

Location: Characterization and Interventions for Foodborne Pathogens

Title: Antilisterial and antibiofilm activities of pediocin and LAP functionalized gold nanoparticles

Author
item SINGH, ATUL - Purdue University
item BAI, XINGJIAN - Purdue University
item AMALARADJOU, MARY - Purdue University
item BHUNIA, ARUN - Purdue University

Submitted to: Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/17/2018
Publication Date: 11/16/2018
Citation: Singh, A.K., Bai, X., Amalaradjou, M.A., Bhunia, A.K. 2018. Antilisterial and antibiofilm activities of pediocin and LAP functionalized gold nanoparticles . Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2018.00074.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2018.00074

Interpretive Summary: Foodborne pathogens including Listeria monocytogenes can form biofilms, persist in food-processing facilities, and contaminate food products leading to serious human illness. Removal of biofilms has proven difficult using traditional cleaning and sanitation methods. In this study, we demonstrated that gold nanoparticles coated two different specific molecules, one molecule that is known to have an antimicrobial properties against L. monocytogenes and a second molecule that allows specific binding to Listeria, were effective at killing L. monocytogenes in biofilms on the food contact surface such as plastics and a miniature industrial conveyor system. This study shows a possible application of the nanoparticle-based antimicrobial system for surface decontamination of L. monocytogenes in industrial settings to potentially reduce the incidence of contaminated foods and foodborne illness.

Technical Abstract: In this study, we synthesized and assessed the antilisterial and antibiofilm properties of a novel gold nanocomposite, functionalized with antimicrobial peptide, Pediocin AcH and Listeria adhesion protein (LAP) for targeted inactivation of L. monocytogenes. The gold nanoparticle (GNP) and the gold nanocomposites (GNP-Pediocin-LAP) were characterized using spectroscopic and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and their effect on human enterocyte-like Caco-2 cells were assessed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)-based cytotoxicity and inhibition of Listeria adhesion assay. The antilisterial and antibiofilm activities of nanocomposites on L. monocytogenes were determined by a plating method. TEM image analysis indicated that the size of GNP and the gold nanoconjugates to be about 20 and 40 nm, respectively; and spectroscopy indicated the successful loading of proteins onto citrate-stabilized GNPs. Gold nanocomposites were non-toxic and significantly reduced L. monocytogenes adhesion to Caco-2 cells. Relative to the GNP-Pediocin conjugate, the GNP-Pediocin-LAP conjugate showed 11.1% higher zone of inhibition in agar diffusion assay, and higher reduction (1.5 log10 CFU/mL) in L. monocytogenes counts. Same preparation also showed 24 and 31% more reduction in Listeria counts in biofilms after 24 and 48 h of incubation, respectively. Nanocomposites were also highly effective in decontamination of L. monocytogenes on a miniature industrial conveyor system. Altogether, co-action of Pediocin and the LAP functionalized on GNP (GNP-Pediocin-LAP), demonstrated higher antilisterial and antibiofilm activities compared to the Pediocin functionalized GNP or Pediocin alone suggesting GNP can provide a platform to load multiple proteins for surface decontamination of L. monocytogenes in industrial settings.