https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:4103 Large-scale phenotypic and genomic analysis of Listeria monocytogenes reveals diversity in the sensitivity to quaternary ammonium compounds but not to peracetic acid. Ivanova, Mirena Mirena Ivanova 0000-0002-0077-5207 Laage Kragh, Martin Martin Laage Kragh 0000-0003-4273-9359 Szarvas, Judit Judit Szarvas 0000-0002-0720-3017 Tosun, Elif Seyda Elif Seyda Tosun Holmud, Natacha Friis Natacha Friis Holmud Gmeiner, Alexander Alexander Gmeiner Amar, Corinne Corinne Amar Guldimann, Claudia Claudia Guldimann Huynh, Tu Anh N. Tu Anh N. Huynh 0000-0002-7313-6166 Karpíšková, Renáta Renáta Karpíšková Rota, Carmen Carmen Rota Gomez, Diego Diego Gomez Aboagye, Eurydice Eurydice Aboagye Etter, Andrea Andrea Etter 0000-0002-0204-0239 Centorame, Patrizia Patrizia Centorame Torresi, Marina Marina Torresi 0000-0002-4684-7886 De Angelis, Maria Elisabetta Maria Elisabetta De Angelis Pomilio, Francesco Francesco Pomilio Okholm, Anders Hauge Anders Hauge Okholm Xiao, Yinghua Yinghua Xiao Kleta, Sylvia Sylvia Kleta Lüth, Stefanie Stefanie Lüth Pietzka, Ariane Ariane Pietzka 0000-0003-2987-2905 Kovacevic, Jovana Jovana Kovacevic 0000-0003-1254-4294 Pagotto, Franco Franco Pagotto 0000-0003-2303-3158 Rychli, Kathrin Kathrin Rychli 0000-0001-6147-577X University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Zdovc, Irena Irena Zdovc Papic, Bojan Bojan Papic Heir, Even Even Heir Langsrud, Solveig Solveig Langsrud Møretrø, Trond Trond Møretrø Brown, Phillip Phillip Brown 0000-0002-9213-6639 Kathariou, Sophia Sophia Kathariou Stephan, Roger Roger Stephan 0000-0003-1002-4762 Tasara, Taurai Taurai Tasara Dalgaard, Paw Paw Dalgaard Njage, Patrick Murigu Kamau Patrick Murigu Kamau Njage 0000-0002-4364-5314 Fagerlund, Annette Annette Fagerlund 0000-0001-7146-4265 Aarestrup, Frank Frank Aarestrup 0000-0002-7116-2723 Truelstrup Hansen, Lisbeth Lisbeth Truelstrup Hansen Leekitcharoenphon, Pimlapas Pimlapas Leekitcharoenphon 0000-0002-5674-0142 American Society for Microbiology journal article open access eng Listeria monocytogenes presents a significant concern for the food industry due to its ability to persist in the food processing environment. One of the factors contributing to its persistence is decreased sensitivity to disinfectants. Our objective was to assess the diversity of L. monocytogenes sensitivity to food industry disinfectants by testing the response of 1,671 L. monocytogenes isolates to quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) and 414 isolates to peracetic acid (PAA) using broth microdilution and growth curve analysis assays, respectively, and to categorize the isolates into sensitive and tolerant. A high phenotype-genotype concordance (95%) regarding tolerance to QACs was obtained by screening the genomes for the presence of QAC tolerance-associated genes bcrABC, emrE, emrC, and qacH. Based on this high concordance, we assessed the QAC genes' dissemination among publicly available L. monocytogenes genomes (n = 39,196). Overall, QAC genes were found in 23% and 28% of the L. monocytogenes collection in this study and in the global data set, respectively. bcrABC and qacH were the most prevalent genes, with bcrABC being the most detected QAC gene in the USA, while qacH dominated in Europe. No significant differences (P> 0.05) in the PAA tolerance were detected among isolates belonging to different lineages, serogroups, clonal complexes, or isolation sources, highlighting limited variation in the L. monocytogenes sensitivity to this disinfectant. The present work represents the largest testing of L. monocytogenes sensitivity to important food industry disinfectants at the phenotypic and genomic level, revealing diversity in the tolerance to QACs while all isolates showed similar sensitivity to PAA.Contamination of Listeria monocytogenes within food processing environments is of great concern to the food industry due to challenges in eradicating the isolates once they become established and persistent in the environment. Genetic markers associated with increased tolerance to certain disinfectants have been identified, which alongside other biotic and abiotic factors can favor the persistence of L. monocytogenes in the food production environment. By employing a comprehensive large-scale phenotypic testing and genomic analysis, this study significantly enhances the understanding of the L. monocytogenes tolerance to quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) and the genetic determinants associated with the increased tolerance. We provide a global overview of the QAC genes prevalence among public L. monocytogenes sequences and their distribution among clonal complexes, isolation sources, and geographical locations. Additionally, our comprehensive screening of the peracetic acid (PAA) sensitivity shows that this disinfectant can be used in the food industry as the lack of variation in sensitivity indicates reliable effect and no apparent possibility for the emergence of tolerance. Listeria Monocytogenes Drug Effects Listeria Monocytogenes Genetics Peracetic Acid Pharmacology Disinfectants Pharmacology Quaternary Ammonium Compounds Pharmacology Phenotype Genome, Bacterial Microbial Sensitivity Tests Food Microbiology Genomics Bacterial Proteins Genetics Bacterial Proteins Metabolism Drug Resistance, Bacterial Genetics http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/api/object/o:4103/download 10.1128/aem.01829-24 https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:605 application/pdf Applied and Environmental Microbiology issn:1098-5336 VoR Applied and Environmental Microbiology 91 4 6.33 MB 2025