Premium
Adaptational changes in cellular phospholipids and fatty acid composition of the food pathogen Listeria monocytogenes as a stress response to disinfectant sanitizer benzalkonium chloride
Author(s) -
Bisbiroulas P.,
Psylou M.,
Iliopoulou I.,
Diakogiannis I.,
Berberi A.,
Mastronicolis S.K.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2010.02995.x
Subject(s) - benzalkonium chloride , listeria monocytogenes , chemistry , phospholipid , biochemistry , food science , hand sanitizer , disinfectant , fatty acid , membrane lipids , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , biology , chromatography , membrane , organic chemistry , genetics
Aims: This study provides a first approach to observing the alterations of the cell membrane lipids in the adaptation response of Listeria monocytogenes to the sanitizer benzalkonium chloride. Methods and Results: A thorough investigation of the composition of polar and neutral lipids from L. monocytogenes grown when exposed to benzalkonium chloride is compared to cells optimally grown. The adaptation mechanism of L. monocytogenes in the presence of benzalkonium chloride caused (i) an increase in saturated‐chain fatty acids (mainly C 16:0 and C 18:0 ) and unsaturated fatty acids (mainly C 16:1 and C 18:1 ) at the expense of branched‐chain fatty acids (mainly C a‐15:0 and C a‐17:0 ) mainly because of neutral fatty acids; (ii) no alteration in the percentage of neutral and polar lipid content among total lipids; (iii) a decrease in lipid phosphorus and (iv) an obvious increase in the anionic phospholipids and a decrease in the amphiphilic phosphoaminolipid. Conclusions: These lipid changes could lead to decreased membrane fluidity and also to modifications of physicochemical properties of cell surface and thus changes in bacterial adhesion to abiotic surfaces. Significance and Impact of the Study: The adaptation and resistance of L. monocytogenes to disinfectants is able to change its physiology to allow growth in food‐processing plants. Understanding microbial stress response mechanisms would improve the effective use of disinfectants.