{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,18]],"date-time":"2026-10-18T00:48:54Z","timestamp":1792284534235,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,24]],"date-time":"2026-02-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1771891200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/journals\/pages\/open_access\/funder_policies\/chorus\/standard_publication_model"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100002322","name":"Coordena\u00e7\u00e3o de Aperfei\u00e7oamento de Pessoal de N\u00edvel Superior","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100002322","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,6]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>The increasing demand for natural antimicrobials has driven interest in plant-derived compounds for food safety applications. This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of tea tree essential oil (Melaleuca alternifolia, TTO) against Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp., combining in vitro and in situ assays. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranged from 3.12 to 6.25\u00a0\u00b5g ml\u22121, and the minimum bactericidal concentrations were identical to the MICs, in media broth. Time-kill assays showed significant reductions in viable cells at 1\u00d7\u00a0MIC, with complete inactivation of S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium within 24 h. Treatment with TTO resulted in significant changes in zeta potential and increased leakage of nucleic acids and proteins, indicating membrane destabilization. At sub-inhibitory concentrations, TTO reduced swimming motility and biofilm formation in a strain-dependent manner. In sterilized milk, MIC values were identical to those obtained in Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) for all Salmonella strains and for E. coli P2421, while E. coli ATCC 25922 exhibited a higher MIC (6.25\u00a0\u00b5g ml\u22121). Checkerboard assays with potassium sorbate showed an additive interaction for S. enteritidis (FICI 1.0), indifferent interactions for most strains, and antagonism for S. Typhi, resulting in a reduction in sorbate MIC from 5.0 to 2.5\u00a0mg ml\u22121 in selected strains.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1093\/lambio\/ovag030","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,24]],"date-time":"2026-02-24T12:38:09Z","timestamp":1771936689000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Bactericidal and anti-virulence effects of\n                    <i>Melaleuca alternifolia<\/i>\n                    essential oil against foodborne pathogens:\n                    <i>in vitro<\/i>\n                    and milk matrix assay"],"prefix":"10.1093","volume":"79","author":[{"given":"Luc\u00edlia Rocha","family":"Magna","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Universidade Tecnol\u00f3gica Federal do Paran\u00e1 Department of Food Technology, , Londrina 86036-370 ,","place":["Brazil"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Milena Matesco","family":"Carreteiro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Universidade Tecnol\u00f3gica Federal do Paran\u00e1 Department of Food Technology, , Londrina 86036-370 ,","place":["Brazil"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Gabriel Jos\u00e9","family":"Couto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Universidade Tecnol\u00f3gica Federal do Paran\u00e1 Department of Food Technology, , Londrina 86036-370 ,","place":["Brazil"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Luana","family":"de\u00a0Carvalho","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Universidade Tecnol\u00f3gica Federal do Paran\u00e1 Department of Food Technology, , Londrina 86036-370 ,","place":["Brazil"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Matheus Henrique","family":"Nogueira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Universidade Tecnol\u00f3gica Federal do Paran\u00e1 Department of Food Technology, , Londrina 86036-370 ,","place":["Brazil"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mariana Lima","family":"Braga","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Universidade Tecnol\u00f3gica Federal do Paran\u00e1 Department of Food Technology, , Londrina 86036-370 ,","place":["Brazil"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Andr\u00e9 Ricardo","family":"Peron\u00a0dos\u00a0Santos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Universidade Tecnol\u00f3gica Federal do Paran\u00e1 Department of Food Technology, , Londrina 86036-370 ,","place":["Brazil"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"M\u00e1rcia Cristina","family":"Furlaneto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Universidade Estadual de Londrina Department of Microbiology, , C.P. 6001, Paran\u00e1 86051-990 ,","place":["Brazil"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Regiane da Silva","family":"Gonzalez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Universidade Tecnol\u00f3gica Federal do Paran\u00e1 Department of Food Technology, , Londrina 86036-370 ,","place":["Brazil"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7164-3391","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Luciana Furlaneto","family":"Maia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Universidade Tecnol\u00f3gica Federal do Paran\u00e1 Department of Food Technology, , Londrina 86036-370 ,","place":["Brazil"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"286","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib44_615_074026","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2","DOI":"10.31080\/ASMI.2021.04.0825","article-title":"F.J.A.S.M Protocol to evaluate antibacterial activity MIC, FIC and time kill method","volume":"4","author":"Alshareef","year":"2021","journal-title":"Acta Scientific Microbiology"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"464","DOI":"10.3390\/foods11030464","article-title":"Essential oils and their major components: an updated review on antimicrobial activities, mechanism of action and their potential application in the food industry","volume":"11","author":"Angane","year":"2022","journal-title":"Foods"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"22567","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-025-06838-5","article-title":"Temperature abuse and Salmonella Typhimurium colonization disrupt the indigenous bacterial communities of pasteurized bovine milk over time","volume":"15","author":"Bharathan","year":"2025","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2757","DOI":"10.4315\/0362-028X-70.12.2757","article-title":"Antimicrobial activity of clove and cinnamon essential oils against Listeria monocytogenes in pasteurized milk","volume":"70","author":"Cava","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Food Prot"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"365","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijbiomac.2021.07.035","article-title":"Evaluation of easy-removing antioxidant films of chitosan with Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil","volume":"186","author":"Caz\u00f3n","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Biol Macromol"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib5","volume-title":"Methods for Dilution Antimicrobial Susceptibility Tests for Bacteria That Grow Aerobically","author":"CLSI.","year":"2018","edition":"10th ed"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"72","DOI":"10.1080\/23144599.2022.2123082","article-title":"In vitro antimicrobial effect of essential tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia), thymol, and carvacrol on microorganisms isolated from cases of bovine clinical mastitis","volume":"10","author":"Corona-G\u00f3mez","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int J Vet Sci Med"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"360","DOI":"10.1016\/j.carbpol.2017.10.011","article-title":"Plasma-treated poly(ethylene oxide) nanofibers containing tea tree oil\/beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complex for antibacterial packaging","volume":"179","author":"Cui","year":"2018","journal-title":"Carbohydr Polym"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.1080\/08927014.2025.2515923","article-title":"Antibiofilm effect of caffeine against Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli in grape and apple fruit juices","volume":"1","author":"Dos\u00a0Santos","year":"2025","journal-title":"Biofouling"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4055","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules26134055","article-title":"Oregano and thyme essential oils encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles as effective antimicrobial agents against foodborne pathogens","volume":"26","author":"Granata","year":"2021","journal-title":"Molecules"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"114540","DOI":"10.1016\/j.lwt.2023.114540","article-title":"1H NMR\u2013based metabolomics reveals the antimicrobial action of oregano essential oil against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in broth, milk, and beef","volume-title":"Lebensmittel-Wissenschaft und-Technologie","author":"Hao","year":"2023"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e00181","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sciaf.2019.e00181","article-title":"Antioxidant activity of the essential oil of citrus limon before and after its encapsulation in amorphous SiO2","volume":"6","author":"Himed","year":"2019","journal-title":"Sci Afr"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"12432","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms241512432","article-title":"Deciphering the broad antimicrobial activity of Melaleuca alternifolia tea tree oil by combining experimental and computational investigations","volume":"24","author":"Iacovelli","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int J Mol Sci"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e70007","DOI":"10.1111\/1471-0307.70007","article-title":"Determination of the presence of Salmonella spp., antibiotic resistance and virulence genes in milk and dairy products","volume":"78","author":"Kanat","year":"2025","journal-title":"Int J Dairy Technol"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"453e462","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1365-2672.2001.01428.x","article-title":"A study of the minimum inhibitory concentration and mode of action of oregano essential oil, thymol and carvacrol","volume":"91","author":"Lambert","year":"2001","journal-title":"J Appl Microbiol"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5598","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules26185598","article-title":"Cinnamomum cassia and Syzygium aromaticum essential oils reduce the colonization of Salmonella Typhimurium in an in Vivo infection model using Caenorhabditis elegans","volume":"26","author":"Lang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Molecules"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101906","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fbio.2022.101906","article-title":"Inhibitory impacts of essential oil (Zanthoxylum schinifolium Sieb. et Zucc) on the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis","volume":"49","author":"Liao","year":"2022","journal-title":"Food Biosci"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"104037","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fbio.2024.104037","article-title":"Insight into the antibacterial properties of terpinen-4-ol on planktonic growth and biofilm-formation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus","volume":"59","author":"Lv","year":"2024","journal-title":"Food Biosci"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"110874","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijfoodmicro.2024.110874","article-title":"Anti-biofilm mechanisms of action of essential oils by targeting genes involved in quorum sensing, motility, adhesion, and virulence: a review","volume":"426","author":"Maggio","year":"2025","journal-title":"Int J Food Microbiol"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"845","DOI":"10.3390\/antibiotics12050845","article-title":"Effect of essential oil from Lippia origanoides on the transcriptional expression of genes related to quorum sensing, biofilm formation, and virulence of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus","volume":"12","author":"Mart\u00ednez","year":"2023","journal-title":"Antibiotics"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e17241","DOI":"10.7717\/peerj.17241","article-title":"The antimicrobial activity of tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) and its metal nanoparticles in oral bacteria","volume":"12","author":"Mohammed","year":"2024","journal-title":"PeerJ"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4139","DOI":"10.3390\/foods13244139","article-title":"Effect of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) and Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) essential oils on the oxidative and microbial stability of chicken fillets during refrigerated storage","volume":"13","author":"Moirangthem","year":"2024","journal-title":"Foods"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"682","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens11060682","article-title":"Terpinen-4-ol, the main bioactive component of tea tree oil, as an innovative antimicrobial agent against Legionella pneumophila","volume":"11","author":"Mondello","year":"2022","journal-title":"Pathogens"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1404","DOI":"10.3390\/biom13091404","article-title":"Tea tree essential oil kills Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis Persisters","volume":"13","author":"Nguyen","year":"2023","journal-title":"Biomolecules"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"107006","DOI":"10.1016\/j.micpath.2024.107006","article-title":"Exploring the antimicrobial efficacy of tea tree essential oil and chitosan against oral pathogens to overcome antimicrobial resistance","volume":"196","author":"Oliveira","year":"2024","journal-title":"Microb Pathog"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"ovaf053","DOI":"10.1093\/lambio\/ovaf053","article-title":"Caffeine as a natural inhibitor of Salmonella biofilms in fruit juices","volume":"78","author":"Peron\u00a0dos\u00a0Santos","year":"2025","journal-title":"Lett Appl Microbiol"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2315","DOI":"10.3390\/foods12122315","article-title":"Plant antimicrobials for food quality and safety: recent views and future challenges","volume":"12","author":"Pinto","year":"2023","journal-title":"Foods"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"106056","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psj.2025.106056","article-title":"Exploring the effects of phenolic compounds and essential oils in poultry: a sustainable strategy to combat Salmonella biofilm infections","volume":"104","author":"Roufunnesa","year":"2025","journal-title":"Poult Sci"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1531","DOI":"10.3390\/pr13051531","article-title":"An evaluation of the antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of essential oils and their emulsions against nosocomial pathogens","volume":"13","author":"Siugzdaite","year":"2025","journal-title":"Processes"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1084","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijbiomac.2021.10.070","article-title":"Chitosan nanoparticles encapsulating lemongrass (Cymbopogon commutatus) essential oil: physicochemical, structural, antimicrobial and in-vitro release properties","volume":"192","author":"Soltanzadeh","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Biol Macromol"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"516","DOI":"10.1017\/S0022029925000160","article-title":"Potential of enterocin from Enterococcus durans MF5 in controlling Listeria species","volume":"91","author":"Souza","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Dairy Res"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"503","DOI":"10.3390\/antibiotics14050503","article-title":"Essential oils for biofilm control: mechanisms, synergies, and translational challenges in the era of antimicrobial resistance","volume":"14","author":"Touati","year":"2025","journal-title":"Antibiotics"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"67","DOI":"10.3892\/wasj.2024.282","article-title":"Chemical compositions and biological properties of the leaf essential oil of three Melaleuca species","volume":"6","author":"Tran","year":"2024","journal-title":"World Acad Sci J"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"292","DOI":"10.1007\/s00203-022-02904-y","article-title":"Synergistic activity of Stryphnodendron adstringens and potassium sorbate against foodborne bacteria","volume":"204","author":"Trevisan","year":"2022","journal-title":"Arch Microbiol"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5918","DOI":"10.1128\/AEM.01391-14","article-title":"Distinct effects of sorbic acid and acetic acid on the electrophysiology and metabolism of Bacillus subtilis","volume":"80","author":"van\u00a0Beilen","year":"2014","journal-title":"Appl Environ Microbiol"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"232","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms12020232","article-title":"The role of flagellum and flagellum-based motility on Salmonella enteritidis and Escherichia coli biofilm formation","volume":"12","author":"Vilas\u00a0Boas","year":"2024","journal-title":"Microorganisms"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1343","DOI":"10.3390\/plants14091343","article-title":"Antibacterial activity and mechanism of Litsea cubeba essential oil against Salmonella typhimurium","volume":"14","author":"Wang","year":"2025","journal-title":"Plants"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8963","DOI":"10.1080\/10408398.2023.2205937","article-title":"Food matrix design can influence the antimicrobial activity in the food systems: a narrative review","volume":"64","author":"Wang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"988245","DOI":"10.3389\/fphar.2022.988245","article-title":"1, 8-Cineole inhibits biofilm formation and bacterial pathogenicity by suppressing luxS gene expression in Escherichia coli","volume":"13","author":"Wang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Pharmacol"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2105","DOI":"10.3390\/plants10102105","article-title":"River tea tree oil: composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, and potential applications in agriculture","volume":"10","author":"Yasin","year":"2021","journal-title":"Plants"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"104273","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fbio.2024.104273","article-title":"Antibacterial activity of angelica essential oil, its mechanism against Pseudomonas fluorescens, and its application in the preservation of chilled fresh beef","volume":"60","author":"Yuan","year":"2024","journal-title":"Food Biosci"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"112","DOI":"10.1016\/j.foodcont.2018.09.005","article-title":"Combined antibacterial activities of essential oil compounds against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and their application potential on fresh-cut lettuce","volume":"96","author":"Yuan","year":"2019","journal-title":"Food Control"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1720","DOI":"10.3390\/plants12081720","article-title":"Antibacterial and antibiofilm efficacy and mechanism of ginger (Zingiber officinale) essential oil against Shewanella putrefaciens","volume":"12","author":"Zhang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Plants"},{"key":"2026031808521145900_bib43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"116657","DOI":"10.1016\/j.lwt.2024.116657","article-title":"Utilization of nanoemulsion to enhance antibacterial capacity of Zanthoxylum bungeanum pericarp essential oils against foodborne pathogenic bacteria","volume":"207","author":"Zheng","year":"2024","journal-title":"LWT"}],"container-title":["Letters in Applied Microbiology"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/lambio\/advance-article-pdf\/doi\/10.1093\/lambio\/ovag030\/67091489\/ovag030.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"am","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/lambio\/article-pdf\/79\/3\/ovag030\/67091489\/ovag030.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/lambio\/article-pdf\/79\/3\/ovag030\/67091489\/ovag030.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,18]],"date-time":"2026-03-18T12:55:59Z","timestamp":1773838559000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/lambio\/article\/doi\/10.1093\/lambio\/ovag030\/8496052"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,24]]},"references-count":44,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,6]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/lambio\/ovag030","relation":{},"ISSN":["1472-765X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1472-765X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published-other":{"date-parts":[[2026,3]]},"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,24]]},"article-number":"ovag030"}}