o:8628 The presence of virulence-related genes among Listeria Monocytogenes strains and their correlation with pathogenic potential en 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. Listeria monocytogenes, Virulence factors, Pathogenicity islands, Listeriosis 1552099 10.18485/meattech.2025.66.3.58 2025-12-08T09:36:33.601Z 44 yes 46 Brankica Lakićević Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia The presence of virulence-related genes among Listeria Monocytogenes strains and their correlation with pathogenic potential https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0175-5830 Branko Velebit Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia The presence of virulence-related genes among Listeria Monocytogenes strains and their correlation with pathogenic potential person https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7577-8074 Vesna V. Janković Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia The presence of virulence-related genes among Listeria Monocytogenes strains and their correlation with pathogenic potential person https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0095-1498 Radmila Mitrović Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia The presence of virulence-related genes among Listeria Monocytogenes strains and their correlation with pathogenic potential person https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2912-2784 Lazar Milojević Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia The presence of virulence-related genes among Listeria Monocytogenes strains and their correlation with pathogenic potential person https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6901-6033 Dunja Mišić Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia The presence of virulence-related genes among Listeria Monocytogenes strains and their correlation with pathogenic potential person https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2213-2612 Boris Mrdović Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia The presence of virulence-related genes among Listeria Monocytogenes strains and their correlation with pathogenic potential person https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9964-4317 application/pdf 448595 https://unilib.phaidrabg.rs/o:8628 no yes 16 70 92000002 71A01 Meat technology - Special Issue 66/3 2025 1-576 66 3 347 351 Kaćanskog 13, 11 000 Belgrade Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology 2025-12-01 www.journalmeattechnology.com