Improving the Viability of Probiotics under Harsh Conditions by the Formation of Biofilm on Electrospun Nanofiber Mat
Jiao Shi,
Shu-Fang Li,
Kun Feng,
Shuang-Yan Han,
Teng-Gen Hu,
Hong Wu
Affiliations
Jiao Shi
Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Green Processing of Natural Products and Product Safety, School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
Shu-Fang Li
Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Green Processing of Natural Products and Product Safety, School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
Kun Feng
Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Green Processing of Natural Products and Product Safety, School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
Shuang-Yan Han
School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
Teng-Gen Hu
Sericultural & Agri-Food Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Functional Foods, Ministry of Agriculture/Guangdong Key Laboratory of Agricultural Products Processing, Guangzhou 510630, China
Hong Wu
Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Green Processing of Natural Products and Product Safety, School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
For improving probiotics’ survivability under harsh conditions, this study used Lactiplantibacillus plantarum GIM1.648 as a model microorganism to investigate its ability to produce biofilms on electrospun ethyl cellulose nanofiber mats. SEM observations confirmed that biofilm was successfully formed on the nanofibers, with the latter being an excellent scaffold material. The optimal cultivation conditions for biofilm formation were MRS medium without Tween 80, a culture time of 36 h, a temperature of 30 °C, a pH of 6.5, and an inoculum concentration of 1% (v/v). The sessile cells in the biofilm exhibited improved gastrointestinal and thermal tolerance compared to the planktonic cells. Additionally, the RT-qPCR assay indicated that the luxS gene played a crucial role in biofilm formation, with its relative expression level being 8.7-fold higher compared to the planktonic cells. In conclusion, biofilm formation on electrospun nanofiber mat has great potential for improving the viability of probiotic cells under harsh conditions.
