info:eu-repo/semantics/review eng https://unilib.phaidrabg.rs/o:8628 doi:10.18485/meattech.2025.66.3.58 The presence of virulence-related genes among Listeria Monocytogenes strains and their correlation with pathogenic potential Lakićević, Brankica Velebit, Branko Janković, Vesna V. Mitrović, Radmila Milojević, Lazar Mišić, Dunja Mrdović, Boris Listeria monocytogenes remains a significant public health concern due to its high mortality rate in susceptible individuals. Contaminated food, particularly ready-to-eat products, are the primary route of transmission to humans. Previous studies have shown that L. monocytogenes exhibits heterogeneous virulence, with strains ranging from hypervirulent to hypovirulent. L. monocytogenes has been found to have pathogenicity islands and other virulence factors scat- tered across the bacterial genome (e.g. inlAB locus). Further, the inlA-inlB locus and LIPI-1 are conserved in almost all L. monocytogenes isolates, emphasizing their important role for pathogenicity. Literature data showed that using genetic virulence profiles to predict virulence potential offers useful information for risk assessment in the food sector, although it also has drawbacks. Also, the use of whole-genome sequencing as the gold standard approach, enhanc- es quantitative microbiological risk assessment and improve listeriosis control. Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology Listeria monocytogenes, Virulence factors, Pathogenicity islands, Listeriosis http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode Meat technology - Special Issue 66/3 2025 volume: 66 number: 3 startpage: 347 endpage: 351 2025-12-01 application/pdf 448595 bytes