Effect of Pseudomonas graminis strain CPA-7 on the ability of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica to colonize Caco-2 cells after pre-incubation on fresh-cut pear

To further gain insight into the mechanism by which the biopreservative bacterium Pseudomonas graminis CPA-7 develops its antimicrobial activity, we have examined the effect that the prior interaction stablished by this bacterium and two foodborne pathogens on fresh-cut pear, has on their capacity to colonize human epithelial cells (Caco-2 cell line) which is crucial for establishing infection. CPA-7 inhibited the growth of L. monocytogenes and S. enterica subsp. enterica ser. Enteritidis by 5.5 and 3.1 log10, respectively, after 7d of interaction at 10°C. Furthermore, CPA-7 attenuated the adherence of S. enterica to Caco-2 cells by 0.8 log10 regardless of the pre-adaptation on the fruit. Conversely, the adhesiveness of L. monocytogenes was not influenced by the interaction with the antagonist but it was reduced by 0.5 log10 after incubation on the food matrix. Pathogen-antagonist-food matrix interaction was associated to a significant reduction of the relative invasiveness of both pathogens, by 1.3 log10 in the case of L. monocytogenes and to an undetectable level (below 5CFU/g fruit) for S. enterica. CPA-7 can adhere to and internalize into intestinal epithelium which enables it for competition. Its adherence positively correlates to the multiplicity of infection (MOI) with respect to Caco-2 cells, increasing by 0.6 log10 in an MOI range of 0.1:1 to 100:1. For the same levels of inoculum, internalized cells could only be detected after 7d of pre-adaptation in the fruit (pH4.5–5.0). However, the combination of gastrointestinal digestion and habituation on the fruit resulted in a significant reduction of CPA-7 populations (by 2 log10 more after 7d of incubation than on inoculation day) as well as in the decrease of its adhesiveness (by 0.8 log10) and invasiveness (to undetectable levels). •CPA-7 inhibited the growth of L. monocytogenes and S. enterica on fresh-cut pear.•CPA-7 reduced the adhesiveness of S. enterica regardless of preadaptation on the fruit.•Invasiveness of both pathogens was reduced after interaction with CPA-7 on the fruit.•CPA-7 was able to adhere to Caco-2 cells which enable it for putative competition.•CPA-7 was reduced by >4 log10 after gastrointestinal digestion.