TITLE:
Characterisation of Resistance Potential to Biofilms Microbial Contaminating Thaumatococcus daniellii and Musa paradisiaca Leaves Used as Food Packaging
AUTHORS:
Comoé Koffi Donatien Benie, N’zebo Désiré Kouame, Koua Atobla, Yao Paul Attien, Wako-Tianwa Alice Tuo, Adjaratou Traore, Noutenin Joelle Diarrassouba, Adjehi Dadie, Mireille Dosso
KEYWORDS:
Resistance, Biofilm, Genes, Thaumatococcus daniellii, Musa paradisiaca
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.16 No.1,
January
30,
2025
ABSTRACT: Despite their biodegradability and economic advantage, plant leaves used as packaging can constitute a public health problem. The aim of this study was to characterize the microbial diversity contaminating plant leaves used as food packaging. In total, two hundred and forty (240) samples composed of Thaumatococcus daniellii and Musa paradisiaca leaves were collected and analyzed. Microbial diversity was assessed using specific medium and biochemical tests. The resistance profile was determined by the Müeller-Hinton agar diffusion method. The resistance (blaSHV, blaIMP, blaTEM) and biofilm formation (pslA, pelA) genes were searched by PCR method. Plant leaves were contaminated by bacterial (68.7%) and fungal (100%) strains. Extreme bacterial (7.1 log10 cfu/cm2) and fungal (3.5 log10 cfu/cm2) loads were obtained on Thaumatococcus daniellii leaves. Bacterial prevalence was 45.1% (S. aureus), 38.8% (E. coli) and 16.1 (P. aeruginosa). In order of decreasing importance, the prevalence of fungal species was 41.1% (A. flavus), 33.1% (A. fumigattus), 13.7% (A. niger) and 12.1% Candida sp. Resistance of E. coli to penicillins ranges from 31.6% to 87.3% and to cephalosporins from 13.3% to 28%. The P. aeruginosa strains were mainly resistant to aztreonam (87.6%). Those of S. aureus showed resistance to tetracycline (67.6), vancomycin (53), erythromycin (44.6) and levofloxacin (32.7). The blaSHV (14.28% to 18.60%) and blaIMP (9.52% to 16.28%) genes were detected in the bacterial strains. P. aeruginosa strains (19.05%) harbored the pslA and pelA genes. The health safety of these biodegradable plant-based packaging contributes to their valorization.