Transcriptome analysis of Listeria monocytogenes grown on a ready-to-eat meat matrix

The contamination of ready-to-eat (RTE) meat products with Listeria monocytogenes is a major concern for the food industry. For a better understanding of the adaptation and survival ability of L. monocytogenes grown on turkey deli meat, the transcriptome of L. monocytogenes strain F2365 was determined with a microarray. Microarray data were validated with a quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR assay. Based on the microarray data, 39 and 45 genes from L. monocytogenes were transcriptionally upregulated and down-regulated, respectively. The genes regulated at the transcriptional level were mainly involved in energy metabolism, fatty acid and phospholipid metabolism, biosynthesis of proteins, transport and binding proteins, DNA metabolism, cellular processes, and regulatory functions. No significant change was noted for the expression of genes encoding known virulence factors such as sigB, prfA, inlA, inlB, plcA, plcB, and hly. These results suggest that L. monocytogenes grown on RTE deli meat changes its transcription of proteins involved in its metabolic pathways to obtain an energy source or to adapt to environmental change without increasing the expression of virulence factors. The global transcriptome profiles provide a better understanding of the growth or adaptation of L. monocytogenes in RTE meat products.