Inhibitory effects of lactic and malic organic acids on autoinducer type 2 (AI-2) quorum sensing of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium

•Pathogens produce auto inducers (AI) for virulence gene expression and survival.•Escherichia coli and Salmonella strains are tested for AI activity.•Malic and lactic acids found to inhibit AI activity in pathogen strains.•Inhibition of auto inducers by organic acids indicates reduction of quorum sensing.

Several organic acid based antimicrobials are reported to reduce bacterial populations but studies showing inhibition of autoinducer-2 (AI-2) activity or quorum sensing are limited. The effect of lactic and malic acids on autoinducer activity of selected strains of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium is tested in this study. The strains were screened for AI-2 like activity on spinach and cantaloupe homogenates using autoinducer sensing Vibrio harveyi biosensor strains. The ED 14 strain of E. coli O157:H7 and the SD 10 strain of Salmonella showed highest AI-2 like activity of 55 and 53 Relative Light Units respectively. These two strains were used to evaluate the AI-2 inhibitory activities of lactic and malic acids at 1-4% concentrations (alone or in combinations). Lactic acid at 4.0% had the highest inhibition of 80% on ED 14 E. coli strain while the combination treatment of lactic acid + malic acid at 4.0% each had the highest inhibition of 80% on SD 10 Salmonella strain. Results from the study indicate that the quorum sensing ability of the E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium strains can be effectively inhibited by antimicrobial organic acids.