Extracellular polymeric substances- the real target in eradicating pseudomonad biofilms

Abstract

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.