Risk of false-negative diagnostics of Listeria monocytogenes due to weak phospholipase activity

Publikationen als Autor:in / Herausgeber:in der Vetmeduni

Mikuni-Mester, Patrick-Julian; Alteio, Lauren

Abstrakt

We investigated an atypical Listeria monocytogenes strain isolated from the food processing environment, which may evade widely used diagnostic approaches. After species confirmation using PCR and MALDI-TOF, enzyme analysis revealed reduced phospholipase activity, indicating a link between its activity and the white appearance of atypical strains on chromogenic agar. While no mutation was detected in the phospholipase C gene, comparative genomics revealed a distinct seven base pair insertion in the prfA gene, resulting in gene truncation. These results highlight the risk of false negatives in current diagnostics and a need for improved detection methods to ensure food safety.

Dokumententyp

Short Communication

Open Access Type

Hybrid

DOI

10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2025.117024

PubMed ID

MEDLINE:40749359