Gene profiling-based phenotyping for identification of cellular parameters that contribute to fitness, stress-tolerance and virulence of Listeria monocytogenes variants.

Microbial population heterogeneity allows for a differential microbial response to environmental stresses and can lead to the selection of stress resistant variants. In this study, we have used two different stress resistant variants of Listeria monocytogenes LO28 with mutations in the rpsU gene encoding ribosomal protein S21, to elucidate features that can contribute to fitness, stress-tolerance and host interaction using a comparative gene profiling and phenotyping approach. Transcriptome analysis showed that 116 genes were upregulated and 114 genes were downregulated in both rpsU variants.

Modeling and Validation of the Ecological Behavior of Wild-Type Listeria monocytogenes and Stress-Resistant Variants.

Unlabelled: Listeria monocytogenes exhibits a heterogeneous response upon stress exposure which can be partially attributed to the presence of stable stress-resistant variants. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the presence of stress-resistant variants of Listeria monocytogenes and their corresponding trade-offs on population composition under different environmental conditions. A set of stress robustness and growth parameters of the wild type (WT) and an rpsU deletion variant was obtained and used to model their growth behavior under combined mild stress conditions and to model their kinetics under single- and mixed-strain conditions in a simulated food chain.

Microbial variability in growth and heat resistance of a pathogen and a spoiler: All variabilities are equal but some are more equal than others.

Quantitative microbiology is used in risk assessment studies, microbial shelf life studies, product development, and experimental design. Realistic prediction is, however, complicated by different sources of variability. The final concentration of microorganisms at the moment of consumption is affected by different sources of variability: variability in the storage times and temperatures, variability in product characteristics, variability in process characteristics, variability in the initial contamination of the raw materials, and last but not least, microbiological variability.

Diversity of acid stress resistant variants of Listeria monocytogenes and the potential role of ribosomal protein S21 encoded by rpsU.

The dynamic response of microorganisms to environmental conditions depends on the behavior of individual cells within the population. Adverse environments can select for stable stress resistant subpopulations. In this study, we aimed to get more insight in the diversity within Listeria monocytogenes LO28 populations, and the genetic basis for the increased resistance of stable resistant fractions isolated after acid exposure.

Performance of stress resistant variants of Listeria monocytogenes in mixed species biofilms with Lactobacillus plantarum.

Population diversity and the ability to adapt to changing environments allow Listeria monocytogenes to grow and survive under a wide range of environmental conditions. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the performance of a set of acid resistant L. monocytogenes variants in mixed-species biofilms with Lactobacillus plantarum as well as their benzalkonium chloride (BAC) resistance in these biofilms.

Isolation and quantification of highly acid resistant variants of Listeria monocytogenes.

Heterogeneity in stress response of bacteria is one of the biggest challenges posed by minimal processing, which aims at finding the balance between microbiologically stable foods while maintaining the characteristics of fresh products. In this study, exposure of Listeria monocytogenes LO28 to acid stress, which can be encountered in the food processing environment as well as in the human body upon ingestion, led to inactivation kinetics showing considerable tailing, which was described by a biphasic inactivation model. Stable acid resistant variants of L.

Abiotic and microbiotic factors controlling biofilm formation by thermophilic sporeformers.

One of the major concerns in the production of dairy concentrates is the risk of contamination by heat-resistant spores from thermophilic bacteria. In order to acquire more insight in the composition of microbial communities occurring in the dairy concentrate industry, a bar-coded 16S amplicon sequencing analysis was carried out on milk, final products, and fouling samples taken from dairy concentrate production lines. The analysis of these samples revealed the presence of DNA from a broad range of bacterial taxa, including a majority of mesophiles and a minority of (thermophilic) spore-forming bacteria.