Carbon starvation survival of Listeria monocytogenes in planktonic state and in biofilm: a proteomic study.

The proteomes of Listeria monocytogenes expressed in suspension and biofilm state, in the presence and absence of a carbon source, were analysed by two-dimensional electrophoresis with the help of computer software. The up-regulated proteins in each case were identified by peptide sequencing using electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry and a database search against the Listeria genome was performed. Relevant functions could be attributed to a number of the induced proteins which contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms of starvation survival of L. monocytogenes in planktonic state and in biofilm.