Background:
Listeria monocytogenes is an important foodborne pathogen responsible for the serious invasive illness. It affects individuals with impaired immune status including elderly, pregnant women, newborns and infants. Measures to control and limit the listeria infections in animals are of paramount importance for preventing the cases of listeriosis not only in animals but also in humans as infected animals and/or food products emanating from or contaminated by them are the prime sources of human infection. Technology Details Presently, we have a collection of over 800 Listeria strains isolated from diverse sources and geographical areas. A study on the collection of 490 L. monocytogenes strains collected between 2000 and 2014 from geographically diverse areas and sources in India, 337 were serotype 4b strains with ~58% of these strains exhibiting a unique PFGE pulsotype. Whole genome sequence analysis indicated the widespread occurrence of a dominant serotype 4b clone on the Indian subcontinent. Studying the immunogenic potential of L. monocytogenes strains will help to develop an immunogen for the betterment of animal and human kinds. It will mutually benefit NRC Meat in increasing its competence and popularizing the Institute among private industries and also to bring extensive research in India to a logical conclusion.