Unlocking dual-mode enzyme activities on bacterial surface: Directional recognition and swift capture of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris from fruit juices

Abstract

The acidophilic and heat-resistant characteristics of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris (A. acidoterrestris) pose significant challenges to fruit juice production. Traditional thermal removal methods are often ineffective against this resilient bacterium. To address this issue, we developed a novel adsorbent, magnetic carbonation carbon-lysozyme nanohybrid (MCL), composed of magnetic nanoparticles with a thin carbon shell and covalently grafted lysozyme. The outer lysozyme facilitates binding to the bacterial surface through two modes: electrostatic attraction and chemical interaction, acting as a vital engine for bacterial adhesion. The ultrathin carbon coating enhances dispersion, reduces magnetic loss, provides more adsorption sites for lysozyme grafting, and ensures stable function in acidic environments. Benefiting from the large surface area of MCL and the specific peptidoglycan recognition structure of lysozyme, MCL exhibits rapid adsorption kinetics and can completely remove 10⁴ CFU/mL of A. acidoterrestris from juice within 20 min. The MCL demonstrates excellent capture performance, negligible cytotoxicity, and no significant impact on juice quality, offering a promising non-thermal strategy to improve juice safety.

Keywords: Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris; Bacterial adsorption; Carbon-Lysozyme nanohybrids; Magnetic separation.