In the food chain, foodborne pathogenic bacteria pose a major challenge. C. jejuni bacteria are difficult to control because of their ability to attach to contact surfaces and biofilm formation - characteristics that are regulated by cell-to-cell signaling and crucial for bacterial transmission and survival. Due to limited research in the field of the influence of natural plant formulations on the C. jejuni signaling system, we analyzed the effect of different lavender formulations of L. hybrida on quorum sensing, adhesion and biofilm formation on the abiotic surface and determined the correlation. The method of measuring the bioluminescence of the biosensor V. harveyi MM30 was used to evaluate the effect of lavender formulations in subinhibitory concentration on cell-to-cell signaling. All tested formulations showed a reduced quorum sensing by more than 50 %, with the best effect of ethanol extract of lavender flowers before distillation - sample A (95%). Inhibition of C. jejuni adhesion was analyzed on a polystyrene surface. All lavender formulations with a reduction of more than 60 % showed a favorable, statistically significant influence. We confirmed the correlation between the change in quorum sensing and adhesion to the abiotic surface. Inhibition of biofilm formation was studied by assessing the coverage of the glass surface with C. jejuni biomass. We found a beneficial effect of lavender essential oils, but the correlation between the reduction of cell-to-cell signaling and the reduction of biofilm forming was not confirmed.
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