Survival and Adaptation of Listeria monocytogenes in the Food Industry: Insights into Persistence Mechanisms

Listeria monocytogenes is a well-known foodborne pathogen responsible for severe cases of listeriosis, an infection that primarily affects individuals with a compromised immune system or other underlying conditions, such as the elderly or pregnant women. This microorganism can persist in food processing environments due to its resistance to a wide variety of adverse conditions, posing a significant food safety concern. Hence, it is essential to further understand which factors contribute to this persistence, including the pathways by which this microorganism can endure such harsh environments within food processing facilities. This review explores the survival mechanisms of L. monocytogenes strains and the current methodologies applied to analyse their distinctive persistent behaviour. Recent advances in genomic and computational approaches are reviewed, highlighting their potential to improve the identification, characterisation, and prediction of L. monocytogenes persistence in food processing environments. Understanding these aspects may be crucial for developing an effective control strategy that can be successfully implemented in the food industry.