Assessment of Internalin A Gene Sequences and Cell Adhesion and Invasion Capacity of Strains Isolated from Foods of Animal and Related Origins.

is a foodborne pathogen of global relevance that causes outbreaks and sporadic cases of listeriosis, acquired through the consumption of contaminated products, including milk or meat products and ready-to-eat meat products subjected to intensive handling. The objective of the present study was to classify isolated from various food-related sources in the Federal District of Brazil and surrounding areas to sequence internalin A () genes from these isolates and assess their adhesion and invasion capacity using Caco-2 cells. In addition, 15 were classified as group I, 3 as group II, and 7 classified as group IV. Premature stop codons (PMSCs) at the nucleotide position 976 (GAA→TAA) of the gene were identified in 5 of the 25 isolates. Adhesion and invasion tests in Caco-2 cells showed that all the isolates were capable of adhesion and cellular invasion, with isolates containing PMSCs exhibiting on average higher invasion capacity than those without PMSCs ( = 0.041) and a median of adhesion very distinctive from those without stop codons. These results are the first report of PMSCs in the gene of from the Federal District of Brazil and Brazil.