Efficacy of natamycin to reduce adhesion and biofilm formation of multispecies yeast biofilms on variable flow conditions

Abstract

This study evaluated the effectiveness of natamycin (NAT) on multispecies yeast biofilms isolatedfrom ultrafiltration membranes in an apple juice processing industry. Biofilms were developedon stainless steel surfaces using 12° Brix apple juice under static (SC) and laminar flow (LF) conditions.NAT (0.01 mM) was applied from the beginning of the adhesion stage (NAT T0) and on24-h-preformed biofilms (NAT T24). NAT T0 significantly reduced attachment and biofilm formationby ~4-log10 units after 48 h, while NAT T24 achieved reductions of 1.83 and 0.79-log10 unitsin SC and LF, respectively. The overall reduction in total cell count was significantly more pronouncedand consistent under SC. This highlights the importance of preventing initial adhesionfor controlling biofilm development. Additionally, these findings underscore the importance ofevaluating antimicrobial agents in dynamic flow conditions that closely mimic real-worldapplications.