AUTHOR=Li Shenmiao , Chan Kelvin Ka-wan , Hua Marti Z. , Gölz Greta , Lu Xiaonan 

TITLE=Inhibition of AI-2 Quorum Sensing and Biofilm Formation in Campylobacter jejuni by Decanoic and Lauric Acids

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.811506

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2021.811506

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Campylobacter jejuni</italic> is a major bacterial cause of human diarrheal diseases worldwide. Despite its sensitivity to environmental stresses, <italic>C. jejuni</italic> ubiquitously distributes throughout poultry production chains. Biofilm formation mediated by quorum sensing is suggested to be critical to the survival of <italic>C. jejuni</italic> in agroecosystem. <italic>C. jejuni</italic> possesses LuxS, the enzyme involved in the production of autoinducer-2 (AI-2) signaling molecules. In this study, two fatty acids, namely decanoic acid and lauric acid, were identified to be effective in inhibiting AI-2 activity of <italic>C. jejuni</italic>. Both decanoic acid and lauric acid at 100 ppm inhibited ∼90% AI-2 activity (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05) of <italic>C. jejuni</italic> without bacterial inactivation. The biofilm biomass of two <italic>C. jejuni</italic> strains was reduced by 10–50% (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05) after treatment by both fatty acids, while increased biofilm formation was observed for one <italic>C. jejuni</italic> strain. In addition, both fatty acids effectively reduced the motility of all tested <italic>C. jejuni</italic> strains. These findings can aid in developing alternative <italic>C. jejuni</italic> control strategies in agri-food and clinical settings.</p>