Polymerase chain reaction amplification of the flaA gene for the rapid identification of Listeria spp.

The polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify specifically a 448 base pair internal fragment of the flaA gene from bacteria belonging to the genus Listeria. This gene encodes for the flagellin protein and allowed specific genus discrimination between other commonly found Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and all Listeria spp. with the exception of Jonesia denitrificans.