Autoinducer-2 Could Affect Biofilm Formation by Food-Derived Bacillus cereus

Bacillus cereus is a foodborne pathogen and cause a frequent problem due to the biofilms forming in equipment of food production plants. Autoinducer-2 (AI-2) involved in interspecies communication, plays a role in the biofilm formation of B. cereus. In this study, biofilm formation by thirty-nine B. cereus strains isolated from foods produced in Korea was determined. To investigate the effect of AI-2 on biofilm formation by B. cereus SBC27, which had the highest biofilm-forming ability, biofilm densities formed after addition of the AI-2 from Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were analysed. As a result, it was found that the quorum sensing molecule AI-2 could induce biofilm formation by B. cereus within 24 h, but it may also inhibit biofilm formation when more AI-2 is added after 24 h. Thus, these results improve our understanding of biofilm formation by food-derived B. cereus and provide clues that could help to reduce the impact of biofilms, the biggest problem in food processing environments, which has an impact on public health as well as the economy.