Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Oral Transmission of Listeria monocytogenes in Mice via Ingestion of Contaminated Food
Published on: May 6, 2013
Listeria tempestatis sp. nov. and Listeria rocourtiae subsp. hofi subsp. nov
Phillip Brown1, Alexandra Moura2,3, Guillaume Valès2
1Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
Abstract:
In September 2018, Hurricane Florence resulted in major flooding in North Carolina, USA. Efforts to isolate Listeria monocytogenes and other Listeria spp. from Hurricane Florence floodwaters repeatedly yielded non-haemolytic Listeria-like isolates that could not be readily assigned to known Listeria taxa. Whole-genome sequence analyses against the 28 currently known Listeria species confirmed that the isolates constitute two new taxa within the genus Listeria. Taxon I, with one isolate, showed the highest similarity to Listeria goaensis, with an average nucleotide identity blast of 85.3±4.4% and an in silico DNA-DNA hybridization (isDDH) of 32.4% (range: 30-35%), differing from the latter by its ability to reduce nitrate, ferment d-ribose and sucrose, and by its inability to produce catalase or ferment d-trehalose and d-lactose. Taxon II, represented by 11 isolates, showed the highest similarity to Listeria rocourtiae, with an average nucleotide identity blast of 92.64±3.8% and an isDDH of 49.9% (range: 47.3-52.5%), differing from the latter by its ability to ferment l-arabinose and its inability to ferment l-rhamnose, d-galactose, d-lactose and d-melibiose. The names Listeria tempestatis sp. nov. and Listeria rocourtiae subsp. hofi subsp. nov. are proposed for taxon I and II, respectively, with type strains CLIP 2022/01175T (F6L-1A=CIP 112444T = DSM 117029T) and CLIP 2022/01000T (F66L-1A=CIP 112443T = DSM 117030T), respectively. Both taxa lack known Listeria pathogenic islands, suggesting a lack of pathogenicity for humans.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Methods of Classification and Identification
Bacterial Phylum Spirochaetes
Bacterial Phylum Firmicutes
Microbes in the Production of Fermented Foods
Microbial Spoilage of Food
Methods of Controlling Food Spoilage

