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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #353972
Research Project: Umbrella Project for Food Safety

Location: Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit

Title: Small molecules targeting LapB protein prevent Listeria attachment to catfish muscle

Author
item AKGUL, ALI - Mississippi State University
item AL-JANABI, NAWAR - Mississippi State University
item DAS, BHASKAR - Mount Sinai School Of Medicine
item LAWRENCE, MARK - Mississippi State University
item KARSI, ATTILA - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: PLOS ONE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2017
Publication Date: 12/18/2018
Citation: Akgul, A., Al-Janabi, N., Das, B., Lawrence, M., Karsi, A. 2018. Small molecules targeting LapB protein prevent Listeria attachment to catfish muscle. PLoS One. 12(12):1-10.

Interpretive Summary: Listeria monocytogenes is an important food-borne pathogen causing listeriosis in human and animals. Relatively little is known about the attachment mechanisms of Listeria to channel catfish fillets. The goal of the present study was to determine the potential role of Listeria LapB protein in catfish fillet attachment. To achieve this, boron-based small molecules were designed to interfere with the active site of LapB protein. Results indicated that majority of small molecules were effective in reducing the Listeria attachment to catfish fillets.

Technical Abstract: Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive foodborne pathogen and the causative agent of listeriosis. L. monocytogenes lapB gene encodes a cell wall surface anchor protein, and mutation of this gene causes Listeria attenuation in mice. In this work, the potential role of Listeria LapB protein in catfish fillet attachment was investigated. To achieve this, boron-based small molecules designed to interfere with the active site of the L. monocytogenes LapB protein were developed, and their ability to prevent L. monocytogenes attachment to fish fillet was tested. Results indicated that seven out of nine different small molecules were effective in reducing the Listeria attachment to catfish fillets. Of these, three small molecules (SM3, SM5, and SM7) were highly effective in blocking Listeria attachment to catfish fillets. This study suggests an alternative strategy for reduction of L. monocytogenes contamination in fresh and frozen fish products.