Listeriosis: food type determines Listeria monocytogenes virulence

Listeriosis is a severe foodborne infection that can cause septicemia, central nervous system infection or infection in fetuses and newborn infants. The pathogen responsible for listeriosis, Listeria monocytogenes, is capable of contaminating food and food processing environments. Scientists from the Institut Pasteur, Inserm and the Université de Paris recently revealed that the virulence of Listeria bacteria differs depending on the type of food involved. Dairy products are contaminated with the most virulent bacteria. This important discovery sheds new light on the virulence of Listeria and paves the way for more effective measures to control food contamination and prevent listeriosis.

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