Pseudomonas putida as a potential biocontrol agent against Salmonella Java biofilm formation in the drinking water system of broiler houses

Abstract

Background Environmental biofilms can induce attachment and protection of other microorganisms including pathogens, but can also prevent them from invasion and colonization. This opens the possibility for so-called biocontrol strategies, wherein microorganisms are applied to control the presence of other microbes. The potential for both positive and negative interactions between microbes, however, raises the need for in depth characterization of the sociobiology of candidate biocontrol agents (BCAs). The inside of the drinking water system (DWS) of broiler houses is an interesting niche to apply BCAs, because contamination of these systems with pathogens plays an important role in the infection of broiler chickens and consequently humans. In this study, Pseudomonas putida, which is part of the natural microbiota in the DWS of broiler houses, was evaluated as BCA against the broiler pathogen Salmonella Java. Results To study the interaction between these species, an in vitro model was developed simulating biofilm formation in the drinking water system of broilers. Dual-species biofilms of P. putida strains P1, P2, and P3 with S. Java were characterized by competitive interactions, independent of P. putida strain, S. Java inoculum density and application order. When equal inocula of S. Java and P. putida strains P1 or P3 were simultaneously applied, the interaction was characterized by mutual inhibition, whereas P. putida strain P2 showed an exploitation of S. Java. Lowering the inoculum density of S. Java changed the interaction with P. putida strain P3 also into an exploitation of S. Java. A further increase in S. Java inhibition was established by P. putida strain P3 forming a mature biofilm before applying S. Java. Conclusions This study provides the first results showing the potential of P. putida as BCA against S. Java in the broiler environment. Future work should include more complex microbial communities residing in the DWS, additional Salmonella strains as well as chemicals typically used to clean and disinfect the system.

Nutrient Sensing and Biofilm Modulation: The Example of L-arginine in Pseudomonas

“…Although diverse, species belonging to Pseudomonas are relevant in all such issues due to their extraordinary metabolic versatility which confers high adaptability to these bacteria [95]. Nevertheless, the Pseudomonas biofilm may represent a biocontrol tool to protect against other microorganisms, including pathogens [96]. As robust, self-immobilised and self-regenerating biocatalysts, Pseudomonas biofilm-based bioreactors can be applied for waste treatment in biodegradation and bioremediation processes or used for fermentative biotransformation [97,98].…”

Impacts of hydrodynamic conditions and microscale surface roughness on the critical shear stress to develop and thickness of early‐stage Pseudomonas putida biofilms

“…We choose P. putida as our model organism because P. putida biofilms have been found on the surfaces of aquatic sediment (Brettar et al, 1994), terrestrial soils (Molina et al, 2000), and drinking water systems (Maes et al, 2020). P. putida has also been used as an environmental friendly bacterium for bioremediation and biodegradation (Pedersen et al, 1997; Samanta et al, 2002) due to its capability to degrade a wide variety of contaminants including lignin (Ravi et al, 2017; Xu et al, 2018), heavy metals (De et al, 2014; Imron et al, 2019), phenols (El‐Naas et al, 2009) and naphthalene (Hwang et al, 2010).…”

Recirculating packed-bed biofilm photobioreactor combined with membrane ultrafiltration as advanced wastewater treatment

“…Pseudomonas species, in particular Pseudomonas putida Y-9, has been described for its excellent capabilities to efficiently remove ammonium, nitrate and nitrite through heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification, even at low temperature (Banerjee et al 2017 ). Both Bacillus and Pseudomonas species have been described for their properties as plant growth-promoting bacteria and as suppressors of plant pathogens (Radhakrishnan et al 2017 ; Maes et al 2020 ). These mechanisms open new alternatives for bio-control strategies.…”