Broad host range phage LPC-1 reduce the risk of Listeria monocytogenes contamination in different food matrices.

Listeria monocytogenes forms biofilms in food and food-processing environments, entering food through cross-contamination. Phages, as antimicrobial agents, have demonstrated efficacy in addressing this issue. This study demonstrated that the LM (Listeria monocytogenes, LM) lytic phage LPC-1 isolated from livestock slaughterhouse effluent effectively lysed LM, Listeria welshimeri, Listeria innocua, and Enterococcus faecium ATCC 35667. Phage LPC-1 is a tailed phage with a non-contractile long tail, has a short incubation period, high cleavage capacity, and can be adsorbed onto the surface of bacteria within a short period. The LPC-1 phage has a genome spanning 43,466 bp with a GC content of 39% and encompasses 67 coding sequences. Notably, LPC-1's genome displayed significant homologies to various non-Listeria phages. Experimental tests under simulated refrigerated conditions revealed that LPC-1 effectively diminished the presence of LM in milk, pork, and both eggshells and egg liquid, indicating its bacteriostatic properties. Moreover, LPC-1 hindered biofilm formation and enhanced biofilm eradication. Consequently, these findings endorse the potential of phage LPC-1 as a prospective antimicrobial agent specifically suited for controlling LM contamination in the food industry, given its proven safety and efficacy.