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Contribution of environmental factors in the formation of biofilms by Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris on surfaces of the orange juice industry

Contribuição de fatores ambientais na formação de biofilmes por Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris em superfícies da indústria de suco de laranja

ABSTRACT:

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the initial microbial load, temperature and contact time on the biofilm formation of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris on stainless steel and natural food-grade rubber using orange juice as culture medium. The low initial load of A. acidoterrestris (2 log CFU/mL) led to biofilm formation on the stainless steel surface after 48 h of contact at 28 ºC and after 24 h at 45 ºC, and on natural food-grade rubber surface after 48 h of contact at both temperatures. The high initial microbial load (5 log CFU/mL) led to biofilm formation on stainless steel after 4 h of contact at 28 °C and 45 °C, while biofilm was formed on natural food-grade rubber after 8 h of contact at 28 °C and 4 h at 45 °C. The microbial load also affected the presence of spores in biofilm, which was observed on both surfaces only at high initial loads of A. acidoterrestris.

Key words:
concentrated orange juice; stainless steel; natural food-grade rubber; spores; biofilm

RESUMO:

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da carga microbiana inicial, temperatura e tempo de contato na formação de biofilme de Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris em aço inoxidável e borracha natural de qualidade alimentar utilizando suco de laranja como meio de cultura. A baixa carga inicial de A. acidoterrestris (2 log UFC/mL) levou à formação de biofilme na superfície do aço inoxidável após 48 h de contato a 28 ºC e após 24 h a 45 ºC, e na superfície natural de borracha de qualidade alimentar após 48 h de contato nas duas temperaturas. A alta carga microbiana inicial (5 log UFC/mL) levou à formação de biofilme em aço inoxidável após 4 h de contato a 28 °C e 45 °C, enquanto o biofilme foi formado em borracha natural de qualidade alimentar após 8 h de contato a 28 °C e 4 h a 45 °C. A carga microbiana também afetou a presença de esporos no biofilme, o que foi observado em ambas as superfícies apenas com altas cargas iniciais de A. acidoterrestris.

Palavras-chave:
suco concentrado de laranja; aço inoxidável; borracha natural de qualidade alimentar; esporos; biofilme

INTRODUCTION:

Brazil is currently the world’s leading producer and exporter of concentrated orange juice. Concentrated orange juice has low water activity (0.80 - 0.83), low pH (3.5 to 4.0), a high concentration of soluble solids (65 °Brix), high viscosity, and low redox potential, which together with the heat treatment during the concentration process inhibit the multiplication of many spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms. However, bacteria of genus Alicyclobacillus spp. survive these environments and caused an unpleasant taste and odour in the juice, described as antiseptic or disinfectant due to the formation of 2,4-dibromophenol and 2-methoxyphenol (guaiacol) compounds, respectively (ORR et al., 2000ORR, R. V. et al. Detection of guaiacol produced by Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris in apple juice by sensory and chromatographic analyses and comparison with spore and vegetative cell populations. J Food Prot . 2000. 63:1517-1522. Available from: <Available from: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Detection-of-guaiacol-produced-by-Alicyclobacillus-OrrShewfelt/467afe80e871bb8d8525691935db690dae3bde98 >. Accessed: Dec. 13, 2018. doi: 10.4315/0362-028X-63.11.1517.
https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/De...
; SMIT et al., 2011SMIT, Y. et al. Alicyclobacillus spoilage and isolation - A review. Food Microbiol. 2011. 28:331-349. Available from: <Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S074000201000290X >. Accessed: Feb. 21, 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.fm.2010.11.008.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ar...
; STEYN et al., 2011STEYN, C. E. et al.Occurrence of Alicyclobacillus in the fruit processing environment - A review. Int. J. Food Microbiol1. 2011. 47:1-11. Available from: <Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168160511001413 >. Accessed: Jan. 31, 2019. doi: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2011.03.004.
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).

Alicyclobacillus is a genus of spore-forming bacteria, Gram-positive that have already been found in soil, organic compost, manure, fruit surface, and acidic beverages (STEYN et al., 2011STEYN, C. E. et al.Occurrence of Alicyclobacillus in the fruit processing environment - A review. Int. J. Food Microbiol1. 2011. 47:1-11. Available from: <Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168160511001413 >. Accessed: Jan. 31, 2019. doi: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2011.03.004.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ar...
; TIANLII et al., 2014TIANLII, Y. et al. Spoilage by Alicyclobacillus bacteria in juice and beverage products: chemical, physical, and combined control methods. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 2014. 13:771-797. Available from: <Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1541-4337.12093 >. Accessed: Dec. 05, 2018. doi: 10.1111/1541-4337.12093.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full...
). The contamination of juices and processing environment with Alicyclobacillus spp. may occur during post-harvest without adequate cleaning of the fruits. This microorganism may still be present in the food industry in the form of biofilms (ANJOS et al., 2013ANJOS, M. M. et al. The resistance of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris spores and biofilm to industrial sanitizers. J Food Prot. 2013. 76:1408-1413. Available from: <Available from: https://jfoodprotection.org/doi/pdf/10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-13-020 >. Accessed: Nov. 10, 2017. doi: 10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-13-020.
https://jfoodprotection.org/doi/pdf/10.4...
). Biofilms are considered a complex and structured community of microorganisms, surrounded by an extracellular matrix of polysaccharides, adhered to each other and/or to a surface or interface (COSTERTON et al., 1995COSTERTON, J. W. et al. Microbial Biofilms. Annu Rev Microbiol. 1995. 49:711-745. Available from: <Available from: https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.mi.49.100195.003431 >. Accessed: Jan. 15, 2018. doi: 10.1146/annurev.mi.49.100195.003431.
https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10...
). These biofilms increase the cell’s resistance to environmental stresses, reduce the efficiency of sanitizers, and bring economic losses to the food industry, as it can be a focus of food contamination (SIMÕES et al., 2010SIMÕES, M. et al. A review of current and emergent biofilm control strategies. LWT - Food Sci. Technol. 2010. 43:573-583. Available from: <Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0023643809003430 >. Accessed: Dec. 10, 2017. doi: 10.1016/j.lwt.2009.12.008.
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).

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the initial inoculated microbial load (low - 2 log, or high - 5 log), processing temperatures (28 °C and 45 °C) and contact times (0, 4, 8, 24, 48, and 72 h) on the biofilm formation of A. acidoterrestris on stainless steel and natural food-grade rubber surfaces using orange juice as culture medium.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Materials

A. acidoterrestris CBMAI 0244T strain (DSMZ 3922, Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen, Germany) was used for the biofilm formation. The strain was stored in 30% glycerol at -20 °C and activated in 3 mL of BAT broth (Bacillus acidoterrestris broth) at 45 °C for 24 h.

The biofilm formation was evaluated in AISI 304#4 stainless steel coupon (8 mm x 8 mm x 1 mm) and a natural food-grade rubber surface (8 mm x 8 mm x 3 mm), non-toxic, food-grade rubber, normally utilized as a fruit conveyor belt in food industries. Before each assay, the surfaces were rinsed with neutral detergent and distilled water, immersed in 70% (v/v) ethanol for 1 hour at room temperature, rinsed again in distilled water, placed in microtubes, and sterilized at 121 °C for 15 (FERNANDES et al., 2014FERNANDES, M. S. et al. Enterotoxigenic profile, antimicrobial susceptibility, and biofilm formation of Bacillus cereus isolated from ricotta processing. Int Dairy J. 2014. 38: 16-23. Available from: <Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0958694614000776 >. Accessed: Mar. 25, 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.idairyj.2014.03.009.
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).

Concentrated orange juice (66 ºBrix) was reconstituted to 11 °Brix (aw 0.96, pH 4.0) using sterile deionized water.

Absence and control of microbial load

The absence of Alicyclobacillus spp. vegetative cells and spores in the samples was previously investigated. In each sterile microtube were added one coupon, 900 uL reconstituted orange juice and 100 uL diluted culture. Two experiments were carried out: i) addition of 100 uL A. acidoterrestris strains at a load of 2 log CFU/mL, and ii) addition of 100 uL A. acidoterrestris strains at 5 log CFU/mL. Subsequently, the microtubes were incubated at 28 and 45 °C. The analyses were performed after 0, 4, 8, 24, 48, and 72 h. After each inoculation, a control of A. acidoterrestris cell count on BAT agar was performed to confirm the initial microbial load. Plates were incubated at 45 °C for 24 h.

Biofilm formation

The biofilm formation was assessed by the plate counting technique. At each time (0, 4, 8, 24, 48, 72 h) and contact temperature (28 ºC and 45 ºC), the stainless steel and natural food-grade rubber coupons were removed from the orange juice and transferred separately to microtubes containing 1.0 mL of 0.85% saline solution, remaining immersed for 1 min at rest to remove the planktonic cells. Then, each vial was immersed in 1.0 mL of 0.85% saline solution and subjected to ultrasound for 5 min to remove the sessile cells (ANJOS et al., 2013ANJOS, M. M. et al. The resistance of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris spores and biofilm to industrial sanitizers. J Food Prot. 2013. 76:1408-1413. Available from: <Available from: https://jfoodprotection.org/doi/pdf/10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-13-020 >. Accessed: Nov. 10, 2017. doi: 10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-13-020.
https://jfoodprotection.org/doi/pdf/10.4...
). For the spore counts, the coupons were subsequently subjected to a heat shock of 80 °C for 10 min, followed by plating on BAT agar and incubation at 45 °C for 24 h (FERNANDES et al., 2014FERNANDES, M. S. et al. Enterotoxigenic profile, antimicrobial susceptibility, and biofilm formation of Bacillus cereus isolated from ricotta processing. Int Dairy J. 2014. 38: 16-23. Available from: <Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0958694614000776 >. Accessed: Mar. 25, 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.idairyj.2014.03.009.
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). The count was performed on BAT agar by drop plate method (HERIGSTAD et al., 2001HERIGSTAD B. et al. How to optimize the drop plate method for enumerating bacteria. Journal of Microbiological Methods. 2001. 44: 121-129. Available from: <Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167701200002414 >. Accessed: Mar. 04, 2018. doi: 10.1016/S0167-7012(00)00241-4.
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). On each BAT agar plate was added three drop (20 uL each) of each dilution. The average of the counts was applied according to SWANSON et al., 1992. Each experiment was repeated three times.

Statistical analyses

All investigated variables were subjected to an analysis of variance (ANOVA). For each temperature, the contact times were compared using Tukey’s test (p<0.05). The results of vegetative cells counts were compared between the temperatures of 28 ºC and 45 °C using T-Student test (p<0.05). The same test also has been used to compare results of spore counts between temperatures of 28 and 45 °C. In all cases, the statistic tests were applied separately for planktonic cells orange juice, sessile cells stainless steel, and sessile cells natural food-grade rubber, for each time. Statistical analysis was performed using the SISVAR program version 5.3 (FERREIRA, 2008FERREIRA, D. F. Manual do sistema Sisvar para análises estatísticas. 2008. (p. 66). Lavras, Brazil: UFLA.).

RESULTS:

Tables 1 and 2 show the results of low and high initial concentration, respectively, the A. acidoterrestris planktonic cells counts (log CFU/mL) in orange juice, and the sessile cells counts (log CFU/cm2) on stainless steel and natural food-grade rubber surfaces as a function of the time and temperature.

Table 1
Mean Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris count ± standard deviation (SD) of planktonic cells (log CFU/mL) and sessile cells (log CFU/cm2) at initial inoculated load of 2 log CFU/mL.
Table 2
Mean Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris counts ± SD of planktonic cells (log CFU/mL) and sessile cells (log CFU/cm2) at initial inoculated load of 5 log CFU/mL.

The low initial load of A. acidoterrestris (Table 1) led to biofilm formation on the stainless steel surface after 48 h of contact at 28 ºC and after 24 h at 45 ºC. The highest biofilm formation (P<0.05) on stainless steel was observed after 72 h at 28 °C and 24 h at 45 ºC. After 72 h at 45 ºC, a reduction of the A. acidoterrestris counts of more than one log cycle was observed. On the natural food-grade rubber surface, the highest biofilm formation of A. acidoterrestris (P<0.05) occurred after 48 h of contact at 28 ºC and 45 ºC, with a reduction after 72 h, at both temperatures.

The low initial A. acidoterrestris population led to low sporulation efficiency of the microorganisms over time at 28 and 45 ºC (Table 1). Therefore, the presence of spores in the biofilm was not observed (count below the detection limit: <3 log CFU/cm2).

At high initial A. acidoterrestris population (Table 2) led to the biofilm formation on stainless steel after 4 h of contact at both 28 °C and 45 °C. The highest biofilm formation was observed after 24 h of contact at 28 °C, although scores were not statistically different (P ≥0.05) over time. At 45 ºC after 8 h of contact the highest biofilm formation was observed (5.30 log CFU/cm2, P<0.05). The biofilm formation was also observed on the natural food-grade rubber surface after a few hours, within 8 h and 4 h for 28 ºC and 45 ºC, respectively. On the natural food-grade rubber surface, the highest biofilm formation was observed at 28 °C after 72 h of contact, with counts of 4.56 log CFU/cm2 (P<0.05). At 45 °C the highest count was after 72 h, however, there was no significant difference with the other times of contact (P ≥0.05).

At high initial A. acidoterrestris population (5 log CFU/mL), the planktonic cells counts in orange juice were higher after 4 h at both 28 °C and 45 °C and over time and the biofilm formation began after a few hours of contact with both stainless steel and natural food-grade rubber surfaces (Table 2). In addition, at high initial A. acidoterrestris populations, the sporulation in orange juice was observed after 4 h for the two temperatures under study, thus spore formation was detected in both biofilms from stainless steel and natural food-grade rubber surfaces. However, the spore count on the stainless steel surface decreased (P<0.05) after 24 h of contact.

In the present study we verified statistical difference between the temperatures tested. For example, on the stainless steel surface at low and high concentration at 24 h and 8 h contact, respectively, the vegetative cell counts of A. acidoterrestris were higher at 45 ºC than at 28 °C (P<0.05). For the natural food-grade rubber surface, at high concentrations, there was no statistical difference between the evaluated temperatures (P≥0.05).

The low initial microbial load inoculated in the orange juice at 28 ºC allowed the adaptation of the bacteria with slow multiplication, thus taking more time for the biofilm formation and high microbial counts. This fact was confirmed by the planktonic cells counts in orange juice over time (Table 1). The initial (4 and 8 h) planktonic cells counts were below 3 log CFU/mL, while the high planktonic cells counts (above 4-5 log CFU/mL, P<0.05) were only observed after 48 h, precisely when the biofilm was formed. At 45 ºC, high plankton cell counts were observed after 24 h (P<0.05), when biofilm formation had already occurred.

Stainless steel surface was more propitious to biofilm of A. acidoterrestris formation at low microbial load, however, at high microbial load, after 72 h of contact, natural food-grade rubber surface was more propitious.

The high initial load (5 log CFU/mL) of A. acidoterrestris led to biofilm formation on the different surfaces more rapidly than low initial load (2 log CFU/mL). In this case, after 4 h of contact, biofilm formation has occurred, suggesting that hygiene procedures must be performed frequently. The microbial load can also affect the presence of spores in the biofilm formed, which was observed on both surfaces only at high initial loads of A. acidoterrestris.

DISCUSSION:

The temperatures of 28 °C and 45 °C were selected in this study to represent the environment processing temperature and the ideal temperature of A. acidoterrestris growth, respectively (SMIT et al., 2011SMIT, Y. et al. Alicyclobacillus spoilage and isolation - A review. Food Microbiol. 2011. 28:331-349. Available from: <Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S074000201000290X >. Accessed: Feb. 21, 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.fm.2010.11.008.
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). The time interval was selected based on the equipment cleaning schedule of the orange juice industry.

Probably, the reduction in the biofilm count after 72 h on the food-grade rubber surface was due to the detachment of the biofilm cells, as the planktonic cell count in the orange juice remained high after 72 h. This is worrisome because detachment can lead to food contamination or colonization of other regions, resulting in new biofilms (SIMÕES et al., 2010SIMÕES, M. et al. A review of current and emergent biofilm control strategies. LWT - Food Sci. Technol. 2010. 43:573-583. Available from: <Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0023643809003430 >. Accessed: Dec. 10, 2017. doi: 10.1016/j.lwt.2009.12.008.
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).

Among the two inoculated microbial load, 5 log CFU/mL and 2 log CFU/mL, the highest biofilm formation of A. acidoterrestris was observed at higher microbial load, for both surfaces. Therefore, the higher the microorganism population, the greater the biofilm formation. PEÑA et al. (2014PEÑA, W. E. L. et al. A Modelling Bacillus cereus adhesion on stainless steel surface as affected by temperature, pH and time. Int Dairy. 2014. J34:153-158. Available from: <Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0958694613002100 >. Accessed: Nov. 08, 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.idairyj.2013.08.006.
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) found that the inoculation of 6 log CFU/mL of Bacillus cereus in milk led to a higher biofilm formation when compared with the inoculation using a low microbial population (3 log CFU/mL), demonstrating the effect of the contamination level on the biofilm formation.

Regardless of the microbial species or surface analysed, the adhesion process may occur with maximum intensity at the optimum temperature growth range (MEIRA et al., 2012MEIRA, Q. G. S. et al. Influence of temperature and surface kind on biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus from food-contact surfaces and sensitivity to sanitizers. Food Control. 2012. 25:469-475. Available from: <Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0956713511005123 >. Accessed: Dec. 05, 2017. doi:10.1016/j.foodcont.2011.11.030.
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). Alicyclobacillus spp. can grow from 20 to 70 °C, with the optimum temperature ranging from 42 to 60 °C (SMIT et al., 2011SMIT, Y. et al. Alicyclobacillus spoilage and isolation - A review. Food Microbiol. 2011. 28:331-349. Available from: <Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S074000201000290X >. Accessed: Feb. 21, 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.fm.2010.11.008.
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).

It is worth mentioning that the spores adhere moreeasily to the stainless steel surface, due to their hydrophobic properties (RYU & BEUCHAT, 2005RYU, J. H. et al. Biofilm formation and sporulation by Bacillus cereus on a stainless steel surface and subsequent resistance of vegetative cells and spores to chlorine, chlorine dioxide, and a peroxyacetic acid-based sanitizer. J Food Prot . 2005. 68:2614-2622. Available from: <Available from: https://europepmc.org/article/med/16355833 >. Accessed: Jul. 30, 2018. doi: 10.4315/0362-028X-68.12.2614.
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), and the adhered spores become even more resistant to the cleaning procedures. Then, under favourable environmental conditions, the spores can germinate in vegetative cells and continue the multiplication process (ELHARIRY, 2011ELHARIRY, H. M. Attachment strength and biofilm forming ability of Bacillus cereus on green-leafy vegetables: Cabbage and lettuce. Food Microbiol. 2011. 28:1266-1274. Available from: <Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S074000201100116X >. Accessed: Feb. 04, 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.fm.2011.05.004.
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), being able to recontaminate the processed juice.

The great majority of the equipment surfaces in the juice processing industry is stainless steel, although this surface is considered smooth, it can wear away over time, with cracks and grooves and corrosion points, which also facilitate adhesion of the microorganism and subsequent biofilm formation (SIMÕES et al., 2010SIMÕES, M. et al. A review of current and emergent biofilm control strategies. LWT - Food Sci. Technol. 2010. 43:573-583. Available from: <Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0023643809003430 >. Accessed: Dec. 10, 2017. doi: 10.1016/j.lwt.2009.12.008.
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).

The natural food-grade rubber is a piece of the conveyor belts the fruits after the arrival at the factory. The rubber surface is usually affected by sanitizing procedures and, consequently, it wears away more easily, which favours the biofilm formation. In addition, rubber often has a porous and spongy structure, which facilitates the adhesion of microorganisms with subsequent biofilm formation. Therefore, these characteristics of the rubber should be evaluated before its use in the food industry. To date, the literature lacks information on biofilm formation of A. acidoterrestris on rubber surfaces.

The biofilm formation of A. acidoterrestris in this study occurred at 28 ºC and 45 ºC. It is worth noting that both temperatures are used in the equipment during the processing of orange juice, thus the poor sanitation can contribute to the biofilm formation. Both surfaces were suitable for biofilm formation of A. acidoterrestris. However, over time of contact, a higher biofilm formation was observed at high microbial load on the natural food-grade rubber surface, and at low microbial load on the stainless steel surface.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Brasil - Finance code 001, for financial support.

REFERENCES

  • CR-2019-0790

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    06 Apr 2020
  • Date of issue
    2020

History

  • Received
    09 Oct 2019
  • Accepted
    14 Dec 2019
  • Reviewed
    04 Feb 2020
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