<i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> Biofilms in Food-Associated Environments: A Persistent Enigma
<i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> (LM) is a bacterial pathogen responsible for listeriosis, a foodborne illness associated with high rates of mortality (20–30%) and hospitalisation. It is particularly dangerous among vulnerable groups, such as newborns, pregnant women and the elderly. The pe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Foods |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/18/3339 |
| _version_ | 1797580096055279616 |
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| author | Lawrence Finn Helen Onyeaka Sally O’Neill |
| author_facet | Lawrence Finn Helen Onyeaka Sally O’Neill |
| author_sort | Lawrence Finn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> (LM) is a bacterial pathogen responsible for listeriosis, a foodborne illness associated with high rates of mortality (20–30%) and hospitalisation. It is particularly dangerous among vulnerable groups, such as newborns, pregnant women and the elderly. The persistence of this organism in food-associated environments for months to years has been linked to several devastating listeriosis outbreaks. It may also result in significant costs to food businesses and economies. Currently, the mechanisms that facilitate LM persistence are poorly understood. Unravelling the enigma of what drives listerial persistence will be critical for developing more targeted control and prevention strategies. One prevailing hypothesis is that persistent strains exhibit stronger biofilm production on abiotic surfaces in food-associated environments. This review aims to (i) provide a comprehensive overview of the research on the relationship between listerial persistence and biofilm formation from phenotypic and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) studies; (ii) to highlight the ongoing challenges in determining the role biofilm development plays in persistence, if any; and (iii) to propose future research directions for overcoming these challenges. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:46:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9910c5d94d06445bb0cbed14ff9eaae5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:46:29Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj.art-9910c5d94d06445bb0cbed14ff9eaae52023-11-19T10:41:40ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582023-09-011218333910.3390/foods12183339<i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> Biofilms in Food-Associated Environments: A Persistent EnigmaLawrence Finn0Helen Onyeaka1Sally O’Neill2School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UKSchool of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UKSchool of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK<i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> (LM) is a bacterial pathogen responsible for listeriosis, a foodborne illness associated with high rates of mortality (20–30%) and hospitalisation. It is particularly dangerous among vulnerable groups, such as newborns, pregnant women and the elderly. The persistence of this organism in food-associated environments for months to years has been linked to several devastating listeriosis outbreaks. It may also result in significant costs to food businesses and economies. Currently, the mechanisms that facilitate LM persistence are poorly understood. Unravelling the enigma of what drives listerial persistence will be critical for developing more targeted control and prevention strategies. One prevailing hypothesis is that persistent strains exhibit stronger biofilm production on abiotic surfaces in food-associated environments. This review aims to (i) provide a comprehensive overview of the research on the relationship between listerial persistence and biofilm formation from phenotypic and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) studies; (ii) to highlight the ongoing challenges in determining the role biofilm development plays in persistence, if any; and (iii) to propose future research directions for overcoming these challenges.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/18/3339<i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>persistencebiofilmfood-associated environmentwhole-genome sequencinggenetic markers |
| spellingShingle | Lawrence Finn Helen Onyeaka Sally O’Neill <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> Biofilms in Food-Associated Environments: A Persistent Enigma Foods <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> persistence biofilm food-associated environment whole-genome sequencing genetic markers |
| title | <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> Biofilms in Food-Associated Environments: A Persistent Enigma |
| title_full | <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> Biofilms in Food-Associated Environments: A Persistent Enigma |
| title_fullStr | <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> Biofilms in Food-Associated Environments: A Persistent Enigma |
| title_full_unstemmed | <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> Biofilms in Food-Associated Environments: A Persistent Enigma |
| title_short | <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> Biofilms in Food-Associated Environments: A Persistent Enigma |
| title_sort | i listeria monocytogenes i biofilms in food associated environments a persistent enigma |
| topic | <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> persistence biofilm food-associated environment whole-genome sequencing genetic markers |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/18/3339 |
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