Result description
Listeria monocytogenes is a well-known pathogen responsible for listeriosis, one of the most serious foodborne diseases, with an increasing trend in the number of cases (including seafood-related cases) in recent years. Bacteriophages show great potential to be used for food safety applications. This Knowledge Output concerns a Listeria-specific bacteriophage cocktail, containing five well-characterized complementary bacteriophages, that provides a broad range of activity against L. monocytogenes isolates of relevance for the seafood industry. The use of this natural, safe and green bacteriophage cocktail effectively reduces L. monocytogenes loads in raw and ready-to-eat (RTE) seafood products and may, therefore, contribute as an additional (bio)control strategy to improve the safety of these products.
A selection of 16 Listeria bacteriophages were characterized regarding the most relevant properties required for food applications. The results on the safety, specificity, efficacy and stability properties of individual phages allowed the formulation of different cocktails that were effective against a broader range of target Listeria strains than single monophages. The two most effective cocktails were selected, which lysed over 90% of tested L. monocytogenes strains. Their effectiveness for Listeria reduction on the surface of contaminated seafood products was then assessed under different conditions. The most efficient cocktail formulation and treatment conditions were then validated in raw and RTE seafood products (raw and cold-smoked salmon) contaminated with naturally occurring low L. monocytogenes counts. The production and purification of stable phages was finally optimized and scaled up to industrial commercial levels. The results provide new evidence to support the potential of bacteriophage biocontrol as a natural, green and safe strategy that could act as an additional tool in a multi-hurdle approach to control the prevalence of L. monocytogenes in seafood.
Addressing target audiences and expressing needs
- To raise awareness and possibly influence policy
- Technology Transfer Expertise
- Collaboration
Further research at industrial level is needed before being able to apply this new Listeria bacteriophage product to produce safer seafood products by the seafood processing industry. We wish to raise awareness and support near-future EU regulation on safety assessment and efficacy of Listeria bacteriophages application
- EU and Member State Policy-makers
- Other Actors who can help us fulfil our market potential
- Research and Technology Organisations
R&D, Technology and Innovation aspects
More research at semi-industrial and industrial level (challenge tests) is needed to assess the effectiveness of defined listeriaphage cocktails on contaminated seafood products. The potential development of resistant bacteria during storage must also be assessed to validate this technology in a relevant environment and to bring it to a higher TRL.
Result submitted to Horizon Results Platform by ASOCIACION NACIONAL DE FABRICANTES DE CONSERVAS DE PESCADOS Y MARISCOS-CENTRO TECNICO NACIONAL DE CONSERVACION DE PRODUCTOS DE LA PESCA
