Ebook: Listeria monocytogenes in the Food Processing Environment

Preface; Acknowledgements; Contents; Chapter 1: Introduction; Chapter 2: What Is the Problem with L. monocytogenes?; 2.1 Public Health Concern; 2.1.1 Disease Characteristics; 2.1.2 Disease Outbreaks Associated with L. monocytogenes; 2.1.3 Outbreak Investigation; 2.2 Occurrence of L. monocytogenes; 2.2.1 Occurrence in Ready-to-Eat Food Processing Facilities; 2.2.2 Occurrence at Retail Level; 2.2.3 Identifying Routes of Contamination; 2.2.4 Economic Burden: Litigation, Sampling Costs, Etc.; 2.2.5 Regulations with Respect to L. monocytogenes; 2.2.6 L. monocytogenes Numbers in Food.

2.2.7 Addressing Occurrence and Regulatory Issues in Industry2.3 Organism Characteristics; 2.3.1 Persistence in the Food Processing Environment; 2.3.2 Stress Response and Sigma B; 2.3.3 Virulence and Virulence Factors; Chapter 3: Gene Manipulation; 3.1 Gene Deletion; 3.2 Mutant Libraries; Chapter 4: Sampling and Laboratory Analysis; 4.1 Isolation Methods for L. monocytogenes; 4.1.1 Confirmation of Isolates as L. monocytogenes; 4.2 Methods for Characterisation of L. monocytogenes; 4.2.1 Serotyping; 4.2.2 Lineages; 4.2.3 Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis; 4.2.4 Multilocus Sequence Typing.

4.2.5 Multi-Virulence-Locus Sequence Typing4.2.6 Multiple-Locus Variable Tandem Repeat Analysis; 4.2.7 Ribotyping; 4.2.8 Physiological Methods; 4.2.9 Whole Genome Sequencing as a Tool for Outbreak Investigation; Chapter 5: Reducing the Occurrence of L. monocytogenes; 5.1 Control of L. monocytogenes During Food Processing; 5.1.1 Awareness; 5.1.2 Attention to Detail in Hygiene; 5.1.3 The Ten Commandments of Listeria Vigilance; 5.1.3.1 Commandment 1: Understand the Nature of L. monocytogenes Contamination; 5.1.3.2 Commandment 2: Take FPE Contamination Serious.

5.1.3.3 Commandment 3: Choose the Right Sampling Sites and Methodology5.1.3.4 Commandment 4: Choose the Right Sampling Frequency; 5.1.3.5 Commandment 5: Establish Critical Control Areas; 5.1.3.6 Commandment 6: Trace the Route of Transmission of Isolates Most Importantly in CCAs; 5.1.3.7 Commandment 7: Be Aware of Phases of Reconstruction; 5.1.3.8 Commandment 8: In Cases of Widespread Contamination, Critically Review the Floor Sanitation Procedures Applied; 5.1.3.9 Commandment 9: Structure Your Data; 5.1.3.10 Commandment 10: Carefully Document Your Progress and Efforts; 5.2 Bacteriocins.

5.3 Bacteriophage5.4 Antagonistic Cultures; Chapter 6: National Listeria Monitoring Programmes; 6.1 Austrian Listeria Monitoring Programme; 6.2 Irish Listeria Monitoring Programme; Chapter 7: Conclusions; References.

This Brief focuses on Listeria monocytogenes, from isolation methods and characterization (including whole genome sequencing), to manipulation and control. Listeriosis, a foodborne disease caused by Listeria monocytogenes is a major concern for public health authorities. In addition, addressing issues relating to L. monocytogenes is a major economic burden on industry. Awareness of its ubiquitous nature and understanding its physiology and survival are important aspects of its control in the food processing environment and the reduction of the public health concern.