Variation in growth and evaluation of cross‐protection in Listeria monocytogenes under salt and bile stress

Aims Exposure of Listeria monocytogenes to osmotic stress can induce increased resistance to subsequent lethal exposure to cell envelope stressors, such as nisin and bile salts. We wanted to determine if similar cross‐protection phenotypes could occur when L. monocytogenes strains were treated with osmotic stress and exposed to sublethal levels of the cell envelope stressor, bile. Method and Results Growth phenotypes were measured for six L. monocytogenes strains exposed to 6% NaCl, 0·3 and 1% bile in BHI. To evaluate cross‐protection, cells were pre‐exposed to 6% NaCl, followed by exposure to BHI+1% bile for 26 h and vice versa. Significant increases in λ (lag phase) and doubling time were observed under salt and bile stresses compared with BHI alone. Average λ and N max (maximum cell density) in 0·3 and 1% bile for all strains were significantly lower than that in 6% NaCl. Pre‐exposure to 6% NaCl followed by exposure to 1% bile significantly increased λ ( P  < 0·05), whereas pre‐exposure to 1% bile followed by exposure to 6% NaCl led to formation of filamentous cells, with no changes in cell density over 26 h. Conclusions Variation in growth characteristics was observed among strains exposed to bile. Exposure to osmotic stress did not lead to increased resistance to bile. Exposure to bile significantly impacted the ability of L. monocytogenes to adapt to grow under osmotic stress, where cells did not multiply but formed filamentous cells. Significance and Impact of the Study Pre‐exposure to a cell envelope stress and subsequent exposure to an osmotic stress appears to pose a significant stress to L. monocytogenes cells.