How does the spatial organisation of foodborne pathogens influence their stress tolerance and survival?
Happy to share our latest publication in npj Science of Food.
During her PhD jointly conducted between AERIAL and the Micalis Institute, Elodie Hoch investigated how growth as 3D microcolonies within food-like matrices shapes the physiology of major foodborne pathogens.
Our results show that spatial growth profoundly alters bacterial responses to food-related stresses and gastrointestinal tolerance, highlighting spatial organisation as a key determinant of microbial physiology that should be integrated into predictive microbiology and food safety assessment.
#FoodMicrobiology #Biofilms #FoodSafety #INRAE #AERIAL #ANSES #npjScienceofFood
Contact Micalis: Romain Briandet <>
Links: Hoch, E., Nielsen-Leroux, C., Guillier, L. et al. Spatial growth of major foodborne pathogens in food-like matrices alters food-related stress responses and gastrointestinal tolerance. npj Sci Food (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-01006-z
