Listeriosis outbreaks are frequently multistate/multicountry outbreaks, underlining the importance of molecular typing data for several diverse and well-characterized isolates. Large-scale whole-genome sequencing studies on Listeria monocytogenes isolates from non-U.S. locations have been limited. Herein, we describe the draft genome sequences of 510 L. monocytogenes isolates from northern Ital...

We report here the draft genome sequence of Listeria monocytogenes strain SLCC208 from Seeliger's historical Special Listeria Culture Collection, initially cultured from a human case in France in 1921. This is, to our knowledge, the oldest L. monocytogenes isolate available and may be useful for comparative genomic studies of L. monocytogenes.

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen that causes severe illness. Thus, ongoing efforts at real-time whole-genome sequencing are of utmost importance. However, it is also important that retrospective analyses that place these data into context be performed. Here, we present the genome sequence of strain HPB2088, which was collected in 1994.

Four-week-old Harlan A/J mice were orally infected with six epidemic and six environmental strains of Listeria monocytogenes. Epidemic strains were significantly more invasive as a group than were environmental strains (P < 0.05), and the intestines of some mice infected with epidemic strains had extensive hemorrhage. Mice inoculated with epidemic strains were significantly more likely to becom...

Listeria monocytogenes, a facultative intracellular pathogen, readily enters cells and multiplies in the cytosol after escaping from phagosomal vacuoles. Macrophages exposed to gamma interferon, one of the main cellular host defenses against Listeria, become nonpermissive for bacterial growth while containing Listeria in the phagosomes. Using the human myelomonocytic cell line THP-1, we show th...

The effect of nisin or citric acid or combinations of these two inhibitors on the inactivation of a cocktail of three Listeria innocua strains was investigated in a model brain heart infusion (BHI) broth and hummus (chickpea dip). In BHI broth, citric acid had a limited ability to inhibit L. innocua growth. Nisin initially reduced L. innocua concentrations by about 3 log cycles; however, L. inn...

Gastrointestinal tract is the main entry for Listeria monocytogenes. Thus, the most common manifestation of infection is enteritis, but meningitis and meningoencephalitis may also occur. Unless recognized and treated, Listeria infections can result in significant morbidity and mortality, especially in immunocompromised hosts. We report a case of Listeria monocytogenes meningitis in a renal tran...