Altered hydrophobicity and membrane composition in stress-adapted Listeria innocua.

Exposure of Listeria innocua to acid and starvation stress decreases sensitivity to the quaternary ammonium compound cetrimide, whereas exposure to cold and heat stress increases sensitivity to this compound. Changes in membrane lipids occur in response to certain types of stress, and these changes likely impact cell sensitivity to chemical sanitizers. The present study included an assessment of the effects of acid, starvation, cold, and heat stress on net cell hydrophobicity and fatty acid composition in L.