SpoVG as a pleiotropic regulator modulating Listeria monocytogenes biofilm formation and multi-dimensional niche establishment

The formation of Listeria monocytogenes biofilms poses significant safety challenges, including antimicrobial resistance and cross-contamination, governed by intricate multi-dimensional regulatory networks. This study focuses on the global regulator SpoVG, elucidating its role in L. monocytogenes biofilm development. Deletion of the spoVG revealed its broad regulatory role on biofilm formation across diverse L. monocytogenes isolates. RNA-seq analysis demonstrated that spoVG modulates biofilm formation by transcriptionally regulating key genes in quorum sensing, chemotaxis, and the phosphotransferase system (PTS). Notably, SpoVG employs a dual regulatory mechanism, acting as a DNA-binding protein and an RNA-binding protein that modulates the stability of selected quorum sensing and motility related genes. Protein interaction assays confirmed SpoVG physically associates with cold-shock proteins (CspB/CspD) and cell wall biosynthesis enzymes (GlmU), suggesting SpoVG coordinates stress adaptation and biofilm matrix biosynthesis. This study establishes a comprehensive SpoVG-mediated regulatory network, providing a theoretical foundation for developing novel anti-biofilm strategies targeting SpoVG to combat L. monocytogenes contamination in food processing environments.