Identification and Characterization of Genes Involved in D-Allose Metabolism in Lineage II Strain of .

, an important food-borne pathogen, causes listeriosis and is widely distributed in many different environments. In a previous study, we developed a novel enrichment broth containing D-allose that allows better isolation of from samples. However, the mechanism of D-allose utilization by remains unclear. In the present study, we determined the metabolism of D-allose in and found that lineage II strains of can utilize D-allose as the sole carbon source for growth, but lineage I and III strains cannot. Transcriptome analysis and sequence alignment identified six genes ( to ) possibly related to D-allose metabolism that are only present in the genomes of lineage II strains. Recombinant strain ICDC-LM188 containing these genes showed utilization of D-allose by growth assays and Biolog phenotype microarrays. Moreover, to were verified to be essential for D-allose metabolism, and affected the growth rate of in D-allose medium, while was dispensable in the metabolism of D-allose in . This is the first study to identify the genes related to D-allose metabolism in , and their distribution in lineage II strains. Our study preliminarily determined the effects of these genes on the growth of , which will benefit the isolation and epidemiological research of .