Isolation of bacteriophages having depolymerase and control of pathogenic E. coli O103 in biofilm on lettuce

To control pathogenic E. coli in biofilm, bacteriophages were isolated from environmental samples. Seventeen isolates had depolymerase activities by translucent zones at the rims of plaques. To determine biofilm-forming ability, an abiotic plastic surface of polystyrene was used; E. coli O103 showed the highest biofilm formation at 30℃ after 24 h. Moreover, biofilm by E. coli O103 on the biotic surface of lettuce was observed by a scanning electron microscope. The bacteriophage cocktail of ΦNOECP40 and ΦNOECP44 showing depolymerase activities was prepared to eliminate the E. coli inbiofilm. By organic acids, reduction of E. coli in biofilm was insignificant and almost undetectable. However, the abundance of E. coli in biofilm was reduced by 3 log CFU/mL from 7.3 log CFU/mL after 60 min with the bacteriophage cocktail. Therefore, we suggest that bacteriophages with depolymerase could be utilized to effectively control pathogenic E. coli in biofilm.