Maple compounds prevent biofilm formation in via sortase inhibition.

The Pss exopolysaccharide (EPS) enhances the ability of the foodborne pathogen to colonize and persist on surfaces of fresh fruits and vegetables. Eradicating listeria within EPS-rich biofilms is challenging due to their increased tolerance to disinfectants, desiccation, and other stressors. Recently, we discovered that extracts of maple wood, including maple sap, are a potent source of antibiofilm agents.

Robust inducible gene expression in intracellular .

Attenuated strains of the intracellular pathogen can deliver genetically encoded payloads inside tumor cells. preferentially accumulates and propagates inside immune-suppressed tumor microenvironments. To maximize the payload impact in tumors and minimize damage to healthy tissues, it is desirable to induce payload synthesis when bacteria are eliminated from the healthy tissues but are grown to high numbers intratumorally.

Lignan-containing maple products inhibit biofilms on fresh produce.

Major listeriosis outbreaks have been associated with fresh produce contaminated with . Strains that synthesize the Pss exopolysaccharide (EPS) have an estimated 10 to 10-fold advantage over nonsynthesizing strains in causing listeriosis. They more readily attach to the surfaces of fruit and vegetables forming EPS-biofilms that better withstand stresses associated with produce storage and consumption.

The exopolysaccharide significantly enhances colonization and survival on fresh produce.

Fresh produce contaminated with has caused major listeriosis outbreaks in the last decades. Our knowledge about components of the listerial biofilms formed on fresh produce and their roles in causing foodborne illness remains incomplete. Here, we investigated, for the first time, the role of the listerial Pss exopolysaccharide (EPS) in plant surface colonization and stress tolerance.

Antifungal weapons of Lysobacter, a mighty biocontrol agent.

Bacteria interact with fungi in a variety of ways to inhibit fungal growth, while the underlying mechanisms remain only partially characterized. The plant-beneficial Bacillus and Pseudomonas species are well-known antifungal biocontrol agents, whereas Lysobacter are far less studied. Members of Lysobacter are easy to grow in fermenters and are safe to humans, animals and plants.