Abstract: The growth of Listeria monocytogenes biofilm in the environment can lead to repeated food contamination. Refrigeration, drying, acid and disinfectant treatments commonly used in food processing and storage affect the biofilm formation of Listeria monocytogenes because of keeping it in stress environments for a long period of time. This paper summarizes the effects of common environmental stresses relevant to food processing on the biofilm formation of L. monocytogenes with an emphasis on disinfectant treatment. Meanwhile, the mechanism of biofilm formation by L. monocytogenes under stress conditions is elaborated from the perspectives of adaptation strategies related to membrane fluidity, biofilm-associated proteins, gene regulation and expression, which will be helpful to understand the formation and evolution of L. monocytogenes biofilm in real environments. Consequently, setting standards for cleaning and disinfection by taking environmental factors into full consideration is conducive to reducing the potential risk of foodborne pathogen transmission.

Key words: environmental stresses; Listeria monocytogenes; biofilm; disinfectant; mechanism