Author Description

Listeria monocytogenes, once an obscure microorganism, has achieved international prominence as a food-borne pathogen, with a public health and economic impact. Consequently, a vigorous multidisciplinary research effort has been undertaken by investigators from such diverse fields as food, veterinary and medical microbiology, immunology, epidemiology, cell and molecular biology, clinical medicine, pathology, and microbial taxonomy. The Society of Industrial Microbiology have been instrumental in compiling this diversity of research effort into a single source. The underlying aim is to answer the question: can we eliminate L. monocytogenes from human food supply? By reviewing the current status of Listeria research and assembling the thoughts and ideas of preeminent Listeria workers who contributed to this volume, new directions are pointed out, and answers to essential questions are provided.