title: Compatible solutes: the key to Listeria's success as a versatile gastrointestinal pathogen?
abstract: Recently we reported a role for compatible solute uptake in mediating bile tolerance and increased gastrointestinal persistence in the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes1. Herein, we review the evolution in our understanding of how these low molecular weight molecules contribute to growth and survival of the pathogen both inside and outside the body, and how this stress survival mechanism may ultimately be used to target and kill the pathogen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, Rossa Avenue, Bishopstown, Cork, Ireland. roy.sleator@cit.ie.
authors.forename: Roy D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Sleator
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hill