Genomic diversity of Listeria monocytogenes isolates from New Zealand

Listeria monocytogenes is the biggest food safety challenge to export growth for the NZ seafood industry and L. monocytogenes can cause huge compliance costs. While much progress has been made in controlling this pathogenic organism, some strains occasionally contaminate factories and persist there for extended periods. The reasons for persistence is poorly understood so this programme of comparative genomics and characterisation of L. monocytogenes isolates was designed to give a better understanding of persistence.