Application of lauroyl arginate ethyl to control Listeria monocytogenes biofilms and cross-contamination via domestic kitchen surfaces.

Abstract

This study evaluated the potential of lauroyl arginate ethyl (LAE) to control Listeria monocytogenes biofilms and their cross-contamination on domestic kitchen surfaces. The minimal biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) and minimal biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) of LAE against L.monocytogenes EGD-e were 18 and 36 μg/mL, respectively. LAE not only inhibited the secretion of key extracellular polymeric substance components (extracellular polysaccharides, extracellular proteins, and extracellular DNA) at sub-MBIC concentrations but also reduced them within mature biofilms at 1/2, 1, and 2 MBEC, thereby disrupting biofilm structural integrity. LAE treatment at sub-MBIC concentrations impaired the motility of L.monocytogenes. Additionally, the expression of quorum sensing (agrA, agrB, agrC, agrD, luxS), virulence (prfA, plcA, hly, mpl, actA, plcB), motility-associated (flaA, degU), and stress response (sigB) genes related to biofilm formation was downregulated by LAE. In simulated cross-contamination experiments, bacterial transfer rates from cutting boards and cutting knives to ready-to-eat sausages reached 93.05% and 80.87%, respectively. A 10-min treatment with 180 μg/mL LAE effectively eradicated biofilms from utensil surfaces, significantly reducing the risk of cross-contamination. This study proves LAE to be a highly effective antimicrobial agent for inhibiting and eliminating L.monocytogenes biofilms, demonstrating its significant application potential in controlling foodborne cross-contamination.