Soraya ChaturongakulSarita RaengpradubMartin WiedmannKathryn J. BoorMahidol UniversitySilliker, Inc.Cornell University2018-07-122018-07-122008-08-01Trends in Microbiology. Vol.16, No.8 (2008), 388-3960966842X2-s2.0-48149114272https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/19307Listeria monocytogenes can respond rapidly to changing environmental conditions, as illustrated by its ability to transition from a saprophyte to an orally transmitted facultative intracellular pathogen. Differential associations between various alternative σ factors and a core RNA polymerase provide a transcriptional mechanism for regulating bacterial gene expression that is crucial for survival in rapidly changing conditions. Alternative σ factors are key components of complex L. monocytogenes regulatory networks that include multiple transcriptional regulators of stress-response and virulence genes, regulation of genes encoding other regulators, and regulation of small RNAs. In this article, the contributions of various σ factors to L. monocytogenes stress response and virulence are described. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Mahidol UniversityImmunology and MicrobiologyMedicineReviewSCOPUS10.1016/j.tim.2008.05.006