Compositional and Functional Changes in Microbial Communities of Composts Due to the Composting-Related Factors and the Presence of Listeria monocytogenes
Hongye Wang, Vijay Shankar, Xiuping Jiang
Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes has been recognized as the etiological agent causing foodborne disease outbreaks, with fresh produce as vulnerable for contamination at even preharvest stage. Owing to the richness in microbial community, compost may mediate suppression of pathogens. In this study, the impact of compost-related factors and L. monocytogenes intrusion on dynamic changes in compost microbiome was investigated by next generation sequencing techniques. The compost-related factors such as compost types, composting stages, and the collection farms are major drivers that affect compost microbiome. The interactions between L. monocytogenes and compost microflora may include the competition for nutrients and the presence of antimicrobials produced by native compost microorganisms as potential competitive exclusion microorganisms. Findings from this study are important for the composting industry to understand the composition and functionality of microbial community in their products and help developing organic fertilizers fortified with anti-L. monocytogenes competitive exclusion microorganisms.