Effect of Chitosan Nanoparticle on pfLA and ftsL Genes Expression in Listeria monocytogenes

Abstract

Background: Listeriosis is an infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes, a facultative, intracellular, Gram-positive bacterium. Listeriosis predominantly affects pregnant women and other high-risk groups. Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium responsible for food-borne infections and is associated with serious illnesses, such as septicemia and encephalomeningitis. Chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) are often used as nanomaterials due to their properties, such as antibacterial activity and non-toxic nature. Objectives: This research aimed to determine how the activity of cell division proteins and formate acetyltransferase-activating enzymes affect the expression of pfLA and ftsL genes in L. monocytogenes in response to CNPs. Methods: In this study, six strains of L. monocytogenes were investigated. The molecular changes in the expression of pfLA and ftsL genes in L. monocytogenes, both before and after exposure to CNPs, were analyzed using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. Results: The study found that the expression of pfLA and ftsL genes in L. monocytogenes altered following exposure to CNPs. Specifically, the pfLA gene expression increased, while the ftsL gene expression decreased in all strains of L. monocytogenes. Conclusions: Based on the present results, CNPs appear to be effective in preventing infections and complications associated with listeriosis.