The presence of Listeria in biofilms and the co-occurring microbiota in a frozen vegetable processing environment
L. monocytogenes is a food-born pathogen and the causative agent for listeriosis in humans. Previous studies demonstrated that biofilms support survival and growth of Listeria under laboratory conditions. Biofilms are comprised of extracellular matrix components (carbohydrates, proteins, eDNA) creating a suitable habitat for bacteria and biofilms are additionally described to provide protection against disinfectants. In addition, there are indications that certain bacterial taxa co-occurring with Listeria are promoting the growth and survival of Listeria in diverse food processing environments. The current study investigated the presence of Listeria and biofilms in a European frozen vegetable processing facility. Moreover, the study described the microbial community in the processing environment and examined which taxa were associated with the presence of Listeria.