# The Role of Fucoidan in Controlling _Listeria monocytogenes_ Biofilms on Seafood-Contact Surfaces  
[PERSON]  
1 Department of Seafood Science and Technology, Institute of Marine Industry, Gyeongsang National University, Tongyeong 53064, Republic of Korea, anamika32 [EMAIL_ADDRESS]  
[PERSON]  
Correspondence: [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (P:K.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (S.Y.P); Tel. : +82-55-772-9143 (S.Y.P);  
1  
[PERSON]  
1 Department of Seafood Science and Technology, Institute of Marine Industry, Gyeongsang National University, Tongyeong 53064, Republic of Korea, [PERSON] [EMAIL_ADDRESS]  
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within biofilms exhibit enhanced resistance to environmental stressors and antimicrobial treatments, making them particularly difficult to eradicate compared with planktonic cells [8]. The development of biofilms in food processing environments presents serious challenges to hygiene and food safety, while also compromising product quality, damaging processing equipment, and reducing overall operational efficiency [3]. Notably, biofilms are liable for approximately 80% persistent infections of bacteria, further complicating efforts to eliminate these pathogens and underscoring the need for effective control measures [9]. Quorum sensing (QS) and EPS possess pivotal responsibilities in the biofilm formation against _L. monocytogenes_, a major foodborne pathogen known for its persistence in food processing environments. The bacterial communication (QS) mechanism regulates gene expression in response to population density, influencing behaviors such as virulence, motility, and biofilm development. In _L. monocytogenes_, QS systems--particularly those involving the autoinducer-2 (AI-2) signaling molecule mediated by the _lux5_ gene--coordinate biofilm maturation and surface adherence, contributing to the pathogen's resistance to environmental stresses and sanitizers [3; 8]. EPS (consists of polysaccharides, nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids), forms the structural matrix of biofilms, enabling cell-to-cell adhesion and attachment to surfaces. This matrix provides physical protection and also blocks nutrients and facilitates horizontal gene transfer, further enhancing bacterial survival. The formation of EPS is closely linked to QS-regulated gene expression, with QS signals upregulating genes involved in EPS production and maintenance [4]. Targeting QS pathways and EPS synthesis has appeared as an encouraging approach for reducing biofilm formation in _L. monocytogenes_. Natural antimicrobial agents, such as plant-derived polyphenols and polysaccharides, have shown potential in disrupting QS signaling and degrading EPS, weakening biofilm integrity, and making the bacteria more susceptible to antimicrobial treatments [9]. Understanding the role of QS and EPS in _L. monocytogenes_ biofilms is essential for acquiring efficient approaches to control biofilm-related contamination in biotic (food) processing environments. Given the increasing challenges associated with biofilm-mediated contamination, research efforts have intensified to develop novel antimicrobial strategies with enhanced efficacy. _L. monocytogenes_ is particularly notorious for its ability to establish resilient biofilms, facilitating its persistence in food handling surroundings and its resistance to conventional sanitization methods [10; 11; 12]. In seafood processing facilities, the manifestation of _L. monocytogenes_ biofilms on abiotic surfaces present a critical challenge to food safety, necessitating the development of groundbreaking methods to mitigate contamination risks and protect public health. Fucoidan is a sulfated polysaccharide produced in significant quantities by various algal species, and its diverse biological properties against biofilm have been previously investigated [13; 14; 15]. It is believed to exhibit antibacterial activity by altering bacterial cell wall permeability, disrupting nutrient exchange, and inhibiting bacterial growth [16; 17; 18].