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The Listeria monocytogenes Homolog of the Escherichia coli era Gene Is Involved in Adhesion to Inert Surfaces

Laboratoire d'Études et de Recherches sur la Qualité des Aliments et les Procédés Agroalimentaires (LERQAP), Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments (AFSSA), 23 Avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94706 Maisons-Alfort, France

Received 23 May 2007/ Accepted 26 September 2007

Two transposon-insertional mutants of Listeria monocytogenes showing smaller viable surface-attached cell populations after disinfection with N,N-didecyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride were identified. In both mutants, transposon Tn917-lac was found to be inserted into the same gene, lmo1462, which is homologous to the essential Escherichia coli era gene. Both L. monocytogenes lmo1462-disrupted mutants displayed lower growth rates, as was also shown for several E. coli era mutants, and the lmo1462 gene was able to complement the growth defect of an E. coli era mutant. We showed that the disruption of lmo1462 decreased the ability of L. monocytogenes cells to adhere to stainless steel. Our results suggest that this era-like gene is involved in adhesion and contributes to the presence of L. monocytogenes on surfaces.

Published ahead of print on 5 October 2007.