Impact of Escherichia coli on the growth of Listeria monocytogenes: a preliminary assessment

Introduction and objectives: Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen responsible for listeriosis, a life-threatening illness that poses a significant risk to susceptible populations, including the elderly, pregnant women, neonates, and immunocompromised individuals[1]. The human digestive system presents multiple barriers to L. monocytogenes, including the gut microbiota, which plays an important role in limiting bacterial survival and infection potential[2]. Conclusions: These findings suggest that strain 2606 is more susceptible to the presence of E. coli than strain 2542, highlighting potential strain-specific interactions within the gut environment. Future studies will expand on these observations by incorporating additional strains and examining their behavior in the presence of other predominant gut bacteria to better understand the impact of microbial interactions on L. monocytogenes survival.