Browsing by Author "Muthuraman S"

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    Characterization of the extracellular polymeric substances matrix of Pseudomonas biofilms formed at the air-liquid interface
    (Elsevier Ltd, 2025-01-27) Muthuraman S; Flint S; Palmer J
    Pseudomonas are common psychotropic food spoilage organisms that affect the quality of aerobically chilled food products. Biofilm formation of these bacteria on food contact surfaces can provide a continuous contamination source, leading to food spoilage. Pseudomonas produce proteolytic and lipolytic enzymes which lead to organoleptic degradation of stored food products. The biofilm extracellular polymeric substances matrix (EPS) protects the bacterial cells from CIP (Cleaning-In-Place) chemicals and adverse conditions. Studies on the composition of the EPS matrix and the molecules present in the EPS matrix are limited. In this study, the EPS composition of mono-species biofilms of Pseudomonas lundensis and Pseudomonas cedrina on polystyrene and stainless-steel surfaces was characterized by chemical analysis and microscopical observations. The biofilms were allowed to grow on polystyrene and stainless-steel surfaces with half-strength TSB for 2 weeks at 30 °C and cold chain temperatures of 7 °C and 4 °C. The EPS was extracted by sonication and centrifugation and chemically analysed for cellulose, total polysaccharides, total proteins, and eDNA. Pseudomonas isolates in this study formed biofilms at the air-liquid interface. The formation of ring-like structures of cells was observed on the polystyrene surface. eDNA formed as a thread-like structure on a polystyrene surface while it formed channels on a stainless-steel surface. The amount of EPS varied at different temperatures. More EPS was formed at 4 °C than 30 °C. Flagellin, Clp protease, Arginine deiminase, and ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) transporter substrate-binding proteins were the key proteins identified in the biofilm matrix of P. lundensis.
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    Extracellular polymeric substances- the real target in eradicating pseudomonad biofilms
    (Elsevier Ltd, 2025-09-01) Muthuraman S; Palmer J; Flint S
    Pseudomonads are common psychrotrophic spoilage bacteria associated with dairy, poultry, and meat processing environments. Pseudomonads can form robust biofilms at cold temperatures and produce thermostable spoilage enzymes. This review discusses the biofilm formation aspects of pseudomonads, such as biofilm formation at the air-liquid interface, psychrotrophic temperatures, and distinct EPS production. The components of the EPS produced by pseudomonads and the potential of pseudomonads as a public good provider to other bacteria within the biofilm are highlighted. The elimination strategies available, other than conventional CIP methods, were discussed. The elimination strategies either target the cells or the EPS. When the cells were removed completely, the remaining EPS footprints encouraged the robust regrowth of the biofilms and strategies targeting only the EPS, such as enzymes, led to multiple colonisation possibilities from the dispersed aggregates. Combining the cell and EPS targeting strategies would result in complete biofilm removal. However, the cost-effective production, rapid removal and safety on food matrices need to be considered while designing the control strategies of pseudomonad biofilm removal.