Identification of Listeria monocytogenes by colony hybridization

In this study the validity of the identification method of L. monocytogenes based on colony hybridization has been demonstrated. Similar results were obtained either with radioactively or nonradioactively labeled DNA probes, represented by the hly and inlA virulence-associated genes. The experimental procedure allows to discriminate L. monocytogenes among Listeria spp. and other Gram-positive bacteria able to grow on Listeria Selective Agar Base. This technique results highly specific and could be applied to detect L. monocytogenes in food samples