A Multiplex PCR for Detection of Virulence Associated Genes in Listeria monocytogenes

Listeriosis is an important food-borne infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes. A multiplex PCR assay was developed for detection of four virulence-associated genes of L. monocytogenes namely, plcA, hlyA, actA and iap. The method was used to detect L. monocytogenes in milk samples with and without enrichment and simultaneously comparing it with conventional cultural method. The assay could detect as low as 15 cells after enrichment. Later, the multiplex PCR was successfully employed to detect virulence-associated genes in L monocytogenes isolated from various sources.