Bacterial communication in the regulation of stress response in Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes, during its transmission from the non-host to host environment, encounters an array of stress and a range of polymicrobial community. It has enhanced regulatory mechanisms to survive in non-host environments and adhere to both the abiotic and biotic surfaces. The biofilm markers and the virulence factors that assist L. monocytogenes in encountering the stress are tightly regulated. To effectively regulate the gene expression, L. monocytogenes employs quorum sensing as one of the mechanisms of stress response systems. The quorum-sensing system of L. monocytogenes shares homologs across genus and domain; thus, potentially capable of responding to communication signals released from other bacteria and host. The stress responses in L. monocytogenes could be modulated by interaction with the surrounding microflora, food components, and the host. Unrevealing molecular interactions that associate bacterial communication with stress response will assist in developing food processing technologies and novel therapeutics. In the current review, we discuss the stress response system in L. monocytogenes as modulated by inter-species and cross-domain bacterial communication. Also, the effect of host-released metabolites affecting the virulence properties of L. monocytogenes has been highlighted.