title: Suitability of the prfA gene, which encodes a regulator of virulence genes in Listeria monocytogenes, in the identification of pathogenic Listeria spp.
abstract: The pathogenesis of listerial infections is complex and involves a number of virulence factors expressed by virulent Listeria species. We have recently described a regulator gene, prfA, that positively regulates the expression of a number of virulence factors in Listeria monocytogenes. When the prfA gene was used as a DNA probe, we found it to be extremely specific for the pathogenic species L. monocytogenes. No reaction was obtained with strains of all other species of this genus. By using this information, an oligonucleotide primer pair was developed that specifically amplifies the prfA gene in L. monocytogenes strains of all known serotypes.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wernars
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heuvelman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Notermans
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Domann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leimeister-Wächter
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chakraborty
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D015342:DNA Probes; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D004269:DNA, Bacterial