Listeria monocytogenes Biofilms in Food-Associated Environments: A Persistent Enigma

Listeria monocytogenes (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 o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Foods 2023-09, Vol.12 (18), p.3339
Main Authors: Finn, Lawrence, Onyeaka, Helen, O’Neill, Sally
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
biofilm
Biofilms
Disinfection & disinfectants
Food
Food contamination & poisoning
Food safety
Food science
food-associated environment
Foodborne diseases
Gene sequencing
genetic markers
Genomes
Illnesses
Listeria
Listeria monocytogenes
Listeriosis
Meat processing
Neonates
Pathogens
persistence
Review
Stainless steel
Whole genome sequencing
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Summary:Listeria monocytogenes (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.
ISSN:2304-8158
2304-8158
DOI:10.3390/foods12183339