Abstract: Food spoilage and biofilm formation by foodborne bacteria are hot topics in food science. The quorum sensing (QS) system and the secondary messenger cyclic di-guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) have been reported to be involved in these phenomena. Intensive studies have demonstrated that bacteria can regulate a series of physiological processes via extracellular autoinducers and intracellular c-di-GMP, which perceive cell density and external stimulus, respectively. Considering this context, this review is focused on the QS and c-di-GMP signaling pathways and their effects on food spoilage and biofilm formation. The regulatory network between the two pathways is discussed as well. This review will be helpful to better understand the role of bacterial communication in food spoilage and biofilm formation in food system and to provide novel targets for ensuring food quality and safety.

Key words: foodborne bacteria, quorum sensing, cyclic di-guanosine monophosphate, food spoilage, biofilm formation