Listeria monocytogenes from Food Products and Food Associated Environments: Antimicrobial Resistance, Genetic Clustering and Biofilm Insights. 2024

Adriana Silva, and Vanessa Silva, and João Paulo Gomes, and Anabela Coelho, and Rita Batista, and Cristina Saraiva, and Alexandra Esteves, and Ângela Martins, and Diogo Contente, and Lara Diaz-Formoso, and Luis M Cintas, and Gilberto Igrejas, and Vítor Borges, and Patrícia Poeta
Microbiology and Antibiotic Resistance Team (MicroART), Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal.

Listeria monocytogenes, a foodborne pathogen, exhibits high adaptability to adverse environmental conditions and is common in the food industry, especially in ready-to-eat foods. L. monocytogenes strains pose food safety challenges due to their ability to form biofilms, increased resistance to disinfectants, and long-term persistence in the environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence and genetic diversity of L. monocytogenes in food and related environmental products collected from 2014 to 2022 and assess antibiotic susceptibility and biofilm formation abilities. L. monocytogenes was identified in 13 out of the 227 (6%) of samples, 7 from food products (meat preparation, cheeses, and raw milk) and 6 from food-processing environments (slaughterhouse-floor and catering establishments). All isolates exhibited high biofilm-forming capacity and antibiotic susceptibility testing showed resistance to several classes of antibiotics, especially trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and erythromycin. Genotyping and core-genome clustering identified eight sequence types and a cluster of three very closely related ST3 isolates (all from food), suggesting a common contamination source. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis revealed resistance genes conferring resistance to fosfomycin (fosX), lincosamides (lin), fluoroquinolones (norB), and tetracycline (tetM). In addition, the qacJ gene was also detected, conferring resistance to disinfecting agents and antiseptics. Virulence gene profiling revealed the presence of 92 associated genes associated with pathogenicity, adherence, and persistence. These findings underscore the presence of L. monocytogenes strains in food products and food-associated environments, demonstrating a high virulence of these strains associated with resistance genes to antibiotics, but also to disinfectants and antiseptics. Moreover, they emphasize the need for continuous surveillance, effective risk assessment, and rigorous control measures to minimize the public health risks associated to severe infections, particularly listeriosis outbreaks. A better understanding of the complex dynamics of pathogens in food products and their associated environments can help improve overall food safety and develop more effective strategies to prevent severe health consequences and economic losses.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries

Related Publications

Adriana Silva, and Vanessa Silva, and João Paulo Gomes, and Anabela Coelho, and Rita Batista, and Cristina Saraiva, and Alexandra Esteves, and Ângela Martins, and Diogo Contente, and Lara Diaz-Formoso, and Luis M Cintas, and Gilberto Igrejas, and Vítor Borges, and Patrícia Poeta
June 2009, The Science of the total environment,
Adriana Silva, and Vanessa Silva, and João Paulo Gomes, and Anabela Coelho, and Rita Batista, and Cristina Saraiva, and Alexandra Esteves, and Ângela Martins, and Diogo Contente, and Lara Diaz-Formoso, and Luis M Cintas, and Gilberto Igrejas, and Vítor Borges, and Patrícia Poeta
January 2007, Foodborne pathogens and disease,
Adriana Silva, and Vanessa Silva, and João Paulo Gomes, and Anabela Coelho, and Rita Batista, and Cristina Saraiva, and Alexandra Esteves, and Ângela Martins, and Diogo Contente, and Lara Diaz-Formoso, and Luis M Cintas, and Gilberto Igrejas, and Vítor Borges, and Patrícia Poeta
September 2022, Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland),
Adriana Silva, and Vanessa Silva, and João Paulo Gomes, and Anabela Coelho, and Rita Batista, and Cristina Saraiva, and Alexandra Esteves, and Ângela Martins, and Diogo Contente, and Lara Diaz-Formoso, and Luis M Cintas, and Gilberto Igrejas, and Vítor Borges, and Patrícia Poeta
September 2023, Journal of veterinary research,
Adriana Silva, and Vanessa Silva, and João Paulo Gomes, and Anabela Coelho, and Rita Batista, and Cristina Saraiva, and Alexandra Esteves, and Ângela Martins, and Diogo Contente, and Lara Diaz-Formoso, and Luis M Cintas, and Gilberto Igrejas, and Vítor Borges, and Patrícia Poeta
May 2024, Microorganisms,
Adriana Silva, and Vanessa Silva, and João Paulo Gomes, and Anabela Coelho, and Rita Batista, and Cristina Saraiva, and Alexandra Esteves, and Ângela Martins, and Diogo Contente, and Lara Diaz-Formoso, and Luis M Cintas, and Gilberto Igrejas, and Vítor Borges, and Patrícia Poeta
September 2014, Food microbiology,
Adriana Silva, and Vanessa Silva, and João Paulo Gomes, and Anabela Coelho, and Rita Batista, and Cristina Saraiva, and Alexandra Esteves, and Ângela Martins, and Diogo Contente, and Lara Diaz-Formoso, and Luis M Cintas, and Gilberto Igrejas, and Vítor Borges, and Patrícia Poeta
August 2003, International journal of food microbiology,
Adriana Silva, and Vanessa Silva, and João Paulo Gomes, and Anabela Coelho, and Rita Batista, and Cristina Saraiva, and Alexandra Esteves, and Ângela Martins, and Diogo Contente, and Lara Diaz-Formoso, and Luis M Cintas, and Gilberto Igrejas, and Vítor Borges, and Patrícia Poeta
January 2019, International journal of food microbiology,
Adriana Silva, and Vanessa Silva, and João Paulo Gomes, and Anabela Coelho, and Rita Batista, and Cristina Saraiva, and Alexandra Esteves, and Ângela Martins, and Diogo Contente, and Lara Diaz-Formoso, and Luis M Cintas, and Gilberto Igrejas, and Vítor Borges, and Patrícia Poeta
June 2021, Foods (Basel, Switzerland),
Adriana Silva, and Vanessa Silva, and João Paulo Gomes, and Anabela Coelho, and Rita Batista, and Cristina Saraiva, and Alexandra Esteves, and Ângela Martins, and Diogo Contente, and Lara Diaz-Formoso, and Luis M Cintas, and Gilberto Igrejas, and Vítor Borges, and Patrícia Poeta
January 2003, Acta microbiologica Polonica,
Copied contents to your clipboard!