ABSTRACT: A long-term-survival (LTS) phase in Listeria monocytogenes was recently discovered. Cells in this phase are coccoid in shape, survive for at least 30 d without any decrease in viable cell numbers, and are very resistant to heat and high pressure. However, how cells of L. monocytogenes transition to this long-term-survival phase is little understood. Therefore, a whole-genome expression analysis was conducted to study the transcription profile of L. monocytogenes as it enters the LTS phase. Transcription profiles at log, stationary and death phases were analyzed since differential gene expressions at these phases may contribute to the eventual transition to the LTS phase. Specifically, cells of L. monocytogenes F2365 at log, stationary, death and LTS phases were obtained by incubating cultures in TSBYE at 35°C for 13 h, 17 h, 24 h and 168-336 h, respectively. Also, to study cells transitioning from the LTS phase back to the log phase, 1 ml of the LTS-phase culture at 336 h was reinoculated into 100 ml of fresh TSBYE with incubation at 35°C for 8 h. Total RNAs of all samples were extracted, reverse transcribed into cDNAs and then hybridized to the L. monocytogenes expression microarray (Roche NimbleGen). During the transition from log phase to stationary phase, differential changes in gene expression involved genes associated with cell envelope, cell division, stress response, energy metabolism, protein synthesis and material transport. During the transition from stationary to death phase, differential changes were observed in genes related to cell envelope, detoxification, pathogenesis, energy metabolism, protein synthesis and material transport. When cultures transitioned from death phase to 168-h LTS phase, significant downregulation of genes associated with amino acid and protein biosynthesis, as well as stress responses, were observed (P < 0.05), while multiple genes related to cell envelope, energy production and material transportation were significantly upregulated (P < 0.05). High similarity of transcription profiles (r = 0.93) within LTS phase was observed when comparing transcriptomes at 168 h and 336 h. RNA quality measurement revealed a high level of degradation of ribosomal RNA during the LTS phase. The transcription profile at 8-h (log-phase) after re-inoculation of LTS cells also resembled that at 13 h (r = 0.94). We hypothesize that the upregulation of some compatible solute transporters during the LTS phase may result in accumulation of these solutes, which may lower intracellular water activity and thus enhance resistance of L. monocytogenes to heat and high pressure. Dormancy may be induced at the LTS phase which is suggested by the downregulation of genes associated with transcription and translation. Once fresh nutrients are provided, LTS cells may quickly exit dormancy and become metabolically active as they transition to the log phase.
