Quorum Sensing Regulation and Inhibition of Exoenzyme Production and Biofilm Formation in the Food Spoilage Bacteria Pseudomonas psychrophila PSPF19

Gram-negative bacteria use the mechanism of acylated homoserine lactone (AHL) mediated quorum-sensing to regulate gene expression in response to population density. The present work aimed to detect signal molecule production and its influence on the production of food spoilage phenotypes such as exoenzyme (lipases and proteases) synthesis and biofilm formation in Pseudomonas psychrophila PSPF19, isolated from freshwater fish stored in refrigerated conditions. The C4-HSL signaling molecule produced by the isolate induced exoenzyme production by twofold and increased attachment and biofilm formation. Further, studies on the effect of a synthetic quorum sensing inhibitor, furanone C-30 on protease and lipase production and biofilm formation, revealed that it inhibited exoenzyme production and bacterial attachment. This study adds to our understanding that quorum sensing plays a role in the low temperature spoilage of foods by psychrotrophic Pseudomonads and quorum sensing inhibitors such as furanones can be developed as new intervention techniques and food preservatives.