Environmental Persistence and Virulence of Listeria Monocytogenes

Major goals:a) To better understand molecular mechanisms of Listeria monocytogenes persistence in food production environments.b) To better understand virulence mechanisms and potential of persistent Listeria monocytogenes strainsObjectives:Genome and transcriptome sequencing of ST121 L. monocytogenes strainsDetermine the contribution of plasmids and prophages and biofilms on ST121 L. monocytogenes persistenceDetermine the role of the RHS locus found in ST121 L. monocytogenes in persistenceAnalyze the virulence of ST121 L. monocytogenes using transcriptome sequencing and deletion mutants