External pH is a cue for the behavioral switch that determines surface motility and biofilm formation of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris

Bacteria use different strategies to survive unfavorable environmental conditions. Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris is a bacterium capable of surviving extremely harsh conditions, for instance, during industrial food processing. A. acidoterrestris is a spore-forming, thermoacidophilic, nonpathogenic bacterium that commonly contaminates commercial pasteurized fruit juices and is, therefore, considered a major microbiological contaminant in the juice industry. The purpose of this study was to elucidate whether A. acidoterrestris is capable of multicellular behavior by testing its ability of biofilm formation and surface motility. A. acidoterrestris was found to be proficient in migration over a surface that is apparently powered by flagella. It was further shown that lowering the external pH leads to inhibition in surface motility of these bacteria. Concomitantly, the reduction in the external pH triggered biofilm formation of A. acidoterrestris cells. Thus, although no significant biofilm was formed at pH 4.5, robust cell adhesion and confluent biofilm formation was seen below the pH 3.6. These findings indicate that the reduction of external pH is an environmental cue for the behavioral switch that inhibits surface motility and triggers biofilm formation of A. acidoterrestris. Gaining insight into the multicellular behavior that facilitates A. acidoterrestris survival in food contact surfaces may contribute to the development of novel antimicrobial means to prevent cross-contamination caused by this bacterium.