Periodic Reporting for period 2 - List_MAPS (Training and research in Listeria monocytogenes Adaptation through Proteomic and Transcriptome deep Sequencing Analysis) Reporting period: 2017-03-01 to 2019-02-28 Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project List_MAPS is a network dedicated to the training of innovative young researchers in the field of Microbiology and Systems Biology. It focuses on Listeria monocytogenes, an ubiquitous pathogen that is in the EU the leading cause of mortality and food recalls due to foodborne pathogens, costing the EU millions of euro per annum in medical care and associated costs in the food sector. ESRs develop scientific expertise through PhD training, mobility of researchers, summer schools, workshops and transfer-of-knowledge. Working in this dynamic state-of-the-art field provide for training of ESRs to the highest level, with co-operation and movement between academia and industry that enhances ESR training. The overall objective of the research programme is to tackle food safety through the combination of high throughput Deep sequencing of transcripts, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Mathematics and Microbiology to decipher the transcriptional regulatory circuitry that drives adaptation and virulence of L. monocytogenes from farm to fork. In addition to excellent scientific competences, competitive research requires a range of transferable skills to secure funding, optimise management of working teams and exploit research results. List_MAPS has developed an innovative approach to the training of ESRs in these transferable skills. Overall, the actions carried out in List_MAPS give the opportunity to secure world-class training for creative, entrepreneurial and innovative researchers. Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far During the second period, the research and training objectives have been optimised and implemented. Since the beginning of the project, ESRs have been developing scientific expertise through their own individual scientific research project and by attending the network-wide training events. In total they have attended two summer schools, two scientific workshops and participated to four international conferences where they presented their results. In addition to the scientific work, the ESR's developed their complementary skills in communication, dissemination and outreach as well as entrepreneurship and management. The ESRs have been trained in outreach with a specific workshop and their participation to the European Researchers Nights. To optimise their career prospects, List_MAPS has designed blended learning courses that the ESRs started to follow in 2017 to develop their competencies in entrepreneurship through the writing of a business plan. The excellence of the project and the high-level of the ESRs resulted in good quality scientific dissemination with 31 posters, 17 oral presentations and 11 published peer-reviewed papers and 20 papers submitted or in preparation. Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far) During the second period transcriptomics and proteomics data have been produced. This is central in the overall scientific program of List_MAPS. Protein extraction from scheduled experimental conditions was completed and the relevant proteome analyses were finished. Regarding transcriptomics, the database has been developed. A very comprehensive set of phenotypic data have been produced (soil, biofilm, intraspecific diversity, metabolism, light, regulation mechanisms). Two aspects of the link between environmental cues and onset of virulence have been under thorough investigation. (i) The consequences of a fat diet on the success of infection has been investigated in the murine model; high fat diet resulted in an increased susceptibility to L. monocytogenes and has a major impact on the overall intestinal ecosystem. (ii) The chitinolytic system of L. monocytogenes is under complex regulation probably involving several regulators and inconnection with the available carbon sources. The link between intra-specific diversity and persistence has been addressed on a large collection of Listeria monocytogenes food isolates. Sessile growth has been under thorough investigation. As expected, phenotypic diversity was evidenced. In silico analyses have been done. Other phenotypic traits have been under investigation. New pathways of regulation have been under scrutiny. Digging into these complex mechanisms was required to fully understand the astonishing capacity of L. monocytogenes to cope with many diverse habitats. This task requires the contribution of experts from several fields including microbiologists, molecular biologists and mathematicians.List_MAPS has contributed to European competitiveness of the agri-food sector. As a European multi-disciplinary network it has generated original, new scientific evidence for food safety policy to be continually adjusted in the light of the European Consumer Agenda. It provided information on regulation of virulence as a consequence to adaptation to environmental conditions. Logo List_MAPS
