Edinburgh Napier University

  Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) is a bacterium which is found throughout the environment and is the cause of listeriosis, a major food-borne disease. While annual case numbers are relatively low listeriosis has a high rate of fatality of 20% to 30% with pregnant woman, the elderly, and immuno-compromised people of particularly concern. We have isolated a number of strains of L. monocytogenes from a variety of sources. The DNA from these isolates have been sequenced and the genetic analysis suggests that there could be a difference in the ability of the different strains to cause disease. The current project will determine the disease-causing potential of several of these L. monocytogenes strains using the wax moth larvae (Galleria mellonella), a well characterised invertebrate model. If it is found that environmental strains demonstrate only limited disease causing potential then this will provide the industry with extra tools for managing risk and developing appropriate control mechanisms.