Identification and enumeration of Listeria monocytogenes by nonradioactive DNA probe colony hybridization.

A plasmid containing the cloned listeriolysin gene of Listeria monocytogenes was used as a probe to identify Listeria strains by DNA colony hybridization. The probe DNA was labeled with horseradish peroxidase in the presence of glutaraldehyde. After the hybridization and wash procedures, the hybrid molecules were detected by luminescence, which resulted from the oxidation of luminol by a horseradish peroxidase-hydrogen peroxide-coupled reaction. Of the 150 Listeria strains and 16 non-Listeria strains examined, the probe hybridized only with L. monocytogenes. The technique was also used to enumerate L. monocytogenes in artificially contaminated foods.