Transcriptomics reveals substance biosynthesis and transport on membranes of Listeria monocytogenes affected by antimicrobial lipopeptide brevilaterin B

Listeria monocytogenes is a worrisome food-borne pathogen threatening global food safety.Our previous study proved that lipopeptide brevilaterin B showed efficient antibacterial activity against L.monocytogenes by interacting with the cell membrane.This research further explored the antibacterial mechanism of brevilaterin B against L.monocytogenes at the sub-minimum inhibition concentration via transcriptomic analysis.Brevilaterin B induced growth inhibition rather than direct membrane lysis in L.monocytogenes at the minimum inhibitory concentration.Transcriptomic analysis showed 1779 difference expressed genes,including 895 up-regulated and 884 down-regulated genes.Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis indicated that brevilaterin B influenced multiple pathways of L.monocytogenes,including peptidoglycan biosynthesis,membrane transport(ATP-binding cassette transports,ion transport),cellular metabolism(amino acid and lipid metabolism),ATP synthesis,and activation of the stress response(quorum sensing and bacterial chemotaxis).In conclusion,brevilaterin B affects gene expression related to biosynthesis,transport and stress response pathways on the membrane of L.monocytogenes.The present work provides the first transcriptomic assessment of the antibacterial mechanism of lipopeptide brevilaterin B at the gene level.