Correlation of <i>in vitro</i> biofilm formation capacity with persistence of antibiotic-resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i> on gnotobiotic lamb's lettuce.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial contamination of fresh produce is a growing concern for food safety, as apart from human pathogens, antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) can persist on fresh leafy produce. A prominent persistence trait in bacteria is biofilm formation, as it provides increased tolerance to stressful conditions. We screened a comprehensive collection of 174 antibiotic-susceptible and -resistant Escherichia coli originating from fresh leafy produce and its production environment. We tested the ability of these strains to produce biofilms, ranging from none or weak to extreme biofilm-forming bacteria. Next, we tested the ability of selected antibiotic-resistant isolates to colonize gnotobiotic lamb's lettuce (Valerianella locusta) plants. We hypothesized that a higher in vitro b

SUBMITTER: Schlechter RO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12093982 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature