Species-Specific Detection of Listeria monocytogenes Using Polymerase Chain Reaction Assays Targeting the prfA Virulence Gene Cluster

• Published in: Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry Vol. 73; no. 6; pp. 1412 - 1415
• Main Authors: JUNG, Hye-Jin, PARK, Sung-Hee, HA, Sang-Do, LEE, Kyu-Ho, CHUNG, Duck Hwa, KIM, Cheol-Ho, KIM, Min-Gon, KIM, Kwang-Yup, KIM, Keun-Sung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry 01.06.2009; Japan Society for Bioscience Biotechnology and Agrochemistry; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; DNA Primers; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genes, Bacterial; Listeria monocytogenes; Listeria monocytogenes - genetics; Listeria monocytogenes - pathogenicity; Multigene Family; PCR; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; prfA virulence gene cluster; Species Specificity; Virulence - genetics; Polymerase chain reaction; Gene cluster; prfA virulence gene cluster; Targeting; Virulence; Listeria monocytogenes; Bacteria; Detection; PCR
• ISSN: 0916-8451; 1347-6947
• DOI: 10.1271/bbb.70252

Sequence comparison of individual genes in the prfA virulence gene cluster (pVGC), a central virulence gene cluster, from different Listeria species indicated that priming sites within the genes appeared to be specific for Listeria monocytogenes exclusively. Therefore, the pVGC was targeted for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays to detect and specifically identify L. monocytogenes. Each gene of the pVGC was specifically amplified in L. monocytogenes but not in other Listeria species.