The Impact of Compounds Released from Damaged Salad Leaves on the Growth and Virulence of <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>
Background: Fresh produce such as leafy green salads have recently become recognized as a potential source of food-borne infection by enteric pathogens This study investigated whether compounds released from damaged salad leaves were recognized by <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> strain EGD...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/2/252 |
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| author | Asma Alsharif Lama Aldawsari Giannis Koukkidis Primrose Freestone |
| author_facet | Asma Alsharif Lama Aldawsari Giannis Koukkidis Primrose Freestone |
| author_sort | Asma Alsharif |
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| description | Background: Fresh produce such as leafy green salads have recently become recognized as a potential source of food-borne infection by enteric pathogens This study investigated whether compounds released from damaged salad leaves were recognized by <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> strain EGD and if they impacted its growth and virulence. Methods: The effects of extracts of salad leaves or salad bag fluids were tested on the growth, biofilm formation, and colonization of salad leaves and host cell virulence. Results: The presence of salad extract at a concentration of less than 0.5% <i>v</i>/<i>v</i> and salad bag fluids at a concentration of 10% <i>v</i>/<i>v</i> enhanced the growth in water and serum-based medium by more than 10,000 times over un-supplemented control cultures. Light and scanning electron microscopy, as well as eukaryotic Caco-2 and <i>Galleria mellonella</i> models of infection, showed that leafy green extracts from rocket, lettuce, spinach, and their salad bag fluids significantly increased the ability of <i>Listeria</i> to establish biofilms and infect host cells. Conclusions: This investigation showed that salad leaf extracts can markedly enhance bacterial virulence, which has implications for bagged salad leaf consumer safety if the leaves become contaminated with pathogenic bacteria such as <i>Listeria</i>. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-744b720cad30441fa14464b64c8d33e5 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj-art-744b720cad30441fa14464b64c8d33e52025-08-20T03:12:19ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-01-0113225210.3390/microorganisms13020252The Impact of Compounds Released from Damaged Salad Leaves on the Growth and Virulence of <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>Asma Alsharif0Lama Aldawsari1Giannis Koukkidis2Primrose Freestone3Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UKDepartment of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UKDepartment of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UKDepartment of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UKBackground: Fresh produce such as leafy green salads have recently become recognized as a potential source of food-borne infection by enteric pathogens This study investigated whether compounds released from damaged salad leaves were recognized by <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> strain EGD and if they impacted its growth and virulence. Methods: The effects of extracts of salad leaves or salad bag fluids were tested on the growth, biofilm formation, and colonization of salad leaves and host cell virulence. Results: The presence of salad extract at a concentration of less than 0.5% <i>v</i>/<i>v</i> and salad bag fluids at a concentration of 10% <i>v</i>/<i>v</i> enhanced the growth in water and serum-based medium by more than 10,000 times over un-supplemented control cultures. Light and scanning electron microscopy, as well as eukaryotic Caco-2 and <i>Galleria mellonella</i> models of infection, showed that leafy green extracts from rocket, lettuce, spinach, and their salad bag fluids significantly increased the ability of <i>Listeria</i> to establish biofilms and infect host cells. Conclusions: This investigation showed that salad leaf extracts can markedly enhance bacterial virulence, which has implications for bagged salad leaf consumer safety if the leaves become contaminated with pathogenic bacteria such as <i>Listeria</i>.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/2/252green salad leaves<i>Listeria</i>growthvirulence |
| spellingShingle | Asma Alsharif Lama Aldawsari Giannis Koukkidis Primrose Freestone The Impact of Compounds Released from Damaged Salad Leaves on the Growth and Virulence of <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> Microorganisms green salad leaves <i>Listeria</i> growth virulence |
| title | The Impact of Compounds Released from Damaged Salad Leaves on the Growth and Virulence of <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> |
| title_full | The Impact of Compounds Released from Damaged Salad Leaves on the Growth and Virulence of <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> |
| title_fullStr | The Impact of Compounds Released from Damaged Salad Leaves on the Growth and Virulence of <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Impact of Compounds Released from Damaged Salad Leaves on the Growth and Virulence of <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> |
| title_short | The Impact of Compounds Released from Damaged Salad Leaves on the Growth and Virulence of <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> |
| title_sort | impact of compounds released from damaged salad leaves on the growth and virulence of i listeria monocytogenes i |
| topic | green salad leaves <i>Listeria</i> growth virulence |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/2/252 |
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