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. 2025 Jun 5;20(6):e0325109.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0325109. eCollection 2025.

Antibiofilm effects of bacteriocin PCM7-4 on Listeria monocytogenes

Haotian Ma  1 , Jinju Peng  1 , Yang Li  1 , Ruixue Pan  1 , Yuner Long  1 , Yining Zhao  1 , Yuexia Ding  1 , Yi Ma  1
Affiliations

Antibiofilm effects of bacteriocin PCM7-4 on Listeria monocytogenes

Haotian Ma et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes is a significant zoonotic pathogen capable of forming biofilms on food and other materials, representing a considerable risk to human health and animal husbandry. The use of bacteriocins as potential new antibacterial and antibiofilm reagents has attracted considerable interest. This study aimed to determine the inhibitory effects of bacteriocin PCM7-4 on L. monocytogenes biofilm formation. In this study, bacteriocin PCM7-4 of SICs (1/16 × MIC, 1/8 × MIC) significantly inhibited the formation of L. monocytogenes biofilm. Bacteriocin PCM7-4 of SICs significantly reduced the production of bacterial extracellular polysaccharides, and could decrease the bacterial motility, meanwhile, PCM7-4 significantly reduced the number and viability of bacteria within the biofilm. RT-qPCR results showed that bacteriocin PCM7-4 significantly reduced the expression of flagella, community sensing and virulence factor genes associated with biofilm formation. The results demonstrated the considerable potential of bacteriocin PCM7-4 as a therapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of L. monocytogenes biofilms.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Schematic diagram summarizing the overall mechanism of action.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Growth curve of L. monocytogenes exposed to bacteriocin PCM7−4.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Effects of bacteriocin PCM7−4 on the quantification of biofilm formation in L. monocytogenes.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Effects of bacteriocin PCM7−4 on the exopolysaccharide production in L. monocytogenes.
Fig 5
Fig 5. The impact of bacteriocin PCM7−4 on the formation of L. monocytogenes biofilms was observed using SEM.
Fig 6
Fig 6. Effects of bacteriocin PCM7−4 on motility in L. monocytogenes.
Fig 7
Fig 7. Effects of bacteriocin PCM7−4 on bacteria within the biofilm in L. monocytogenes.
A: Cell viability B: Bacterial count.
Fig 8
Fig 8. Effects of PCM7−4 on the relative expression of genes associated with biofilm formation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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