Tolerance of Listeria monocytogenes to cell envelope-acting antimicrobial agents is dependent on SigB

Mutation of sigB impairs the ability of Listeria monocytogenes to grow in sublethal levels, and to survive in lethal concentrations, of the bacteriocins nisin and lacticin 3147 and the antibiotics ampicillin and penicillin G. SigB may therefore represent an attractive target for the development of new control and treatment strategies for this important pathogen.