Endospore appendages enhance adhesion of <i>Bacillus cereus sensu lato</i> spores to industrial surfaces, modulated by physicochemical factors.

ABSTRACT: Spores of species belonging to the Bacillus cereus sensu lato (s.l.) group are common contaminants in food processing environments due to their ability to adhere to surfaces and resist cleaning procedures. These spores are equipped with pilus-like endospore appendages (ENAs), which are believed to promote surface adhesion. We investigated the role of ENAs in spore adhesion to abiotic surfaces using a wild-type (WT) Bacillus paranthracis strain and isogenic mutants lacking ENAs or an intact exosporium. WT spores expressing both short and long ENAs (S+L+) adhered significantly more to stainless steel (SS) and polypropylene (PP) compared to bald spores (S-L-) and spores of an exosporium-deficient mutant (ΔexsY), whereas adhesion to polystyrene (PS) and glass was not signi

SUBMITTER: Albertsdottir Jonsmoen UL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12628813 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature