Listeria genome map a priority

Ottawa, Ont. – Canada is supporting a project to map the genome of Listeria and develop faster testing methods for the L. monocytogenes bacterium.

The 18-month, $600,000 project is supported by funding from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, not-for-profit organization Genome Canada, and Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions.

The project will aim at cutting existing testing times in half, allowing producers and government to respond to food safety issues more quickly, therefore limiting the impact of outbreaks. Current testing methods may take between three and five days.

The genomics technology will also be able to distinguish between dangerous and non-dangerous Listeriosis strains.