Transcriptome analysis of organisms with food safety relevance

Transcriptome analysis using microarrays has become a powerful tool to better understand the process of disease and other complex biological processes such as food spoilage and biofilm formation. This review is divided into two basic sections: 1) a short history and description of microarrays and 2) a discussion of studies involving bacterial food safety pathogens that focused on whole genome transcript analysis. Not included are the many studies using microarrays to identify, diagnose, or genetically characterize these organisms. This review focuses on studies involving Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., Campylobacter jejuni, Listeria monocytogenes, and Yersinia enterocolitica. Many of the studies involve altering the growth environment to simulate stress conditions and the use of host-pathogen model systems to explore virulence mechanisms. Few studies use conditions that might be considered unique to the food industry. Exceptions are studies of biofilm-specific transcriptome changes and analysis following pressure treatment. This review should not be considered as a comprehensive review, and where appropriate, species-specific reviews are cited that are more complete.