ABSTRACT
Abstract ................................................................................................. 152 6.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 152 6.2 Biological Characteristics ............................................................ 153 6.3 Disease ......................................................................................... 154 6.4 Epidemiology ............................................................................... 154 6.5 Genomics ..................................................................................... 156 6.6 Pathogenesis ................................................................................. 165 6.7 Identification and Detection ......................................................... 166 6.8 Conclusion and Future Research ................................................. 170 Keywords .............................................................................................. 170 References ............................................................................................. 171
HOSSAM ABDELHAMED, SEONGWON NHO, ATTILA KARSI, and MARK L. LAWRENCE*
Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Starkville 39762, MS, USA
*Corresponding author. E-mail: Lawrence@cvm.msstate.edu
ABSTRACT
Listeria monocytogenes is an intracellular pathogen transmitted to humans and animals through the consumption of contaminated food. It causes listeriosis and affects mostly at-risk people causing high hospitalization rates and death. To develop improved control measures for listeriosis, it is important to understand pathogenic mechanisms of L. monocytogenes. Manipulating chromosomal genes is a fundamental biological tool for the analysis of gene function in bacterial species. In this chapter, we summarize listeriosis, characteristic features of Listeria species, and sources and routes of transmission of Listeria species. Also, we discuss the approaches and tools available for gene inactivation in L. monocytogenes by allelic exchange and homologous recombination. We also detail the construction of a novel suicide delivery system (pHoss1). Finally, we review available laboratory identification and detection methods for Listeria species.
