Matters Microbial #107: Listeria Sprouting Hysteria? September 11, 2025

Today, Dr. Lisa Gorski, a microbiologist and food safety consultant recently retired from the US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the facts about the disease causing bacterium named Listeria. We will learn about the organism, the disease listeriosis, and food safety.

Host: Mark O. Martin

Guest: Lisa Gorski

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Links for this episode

• A description of the ice nucleation phenomenon carried out by many bacteria.
• An out of print book by Dr. Jo Handelsman that explained the ice nucleation experiment I often use when I teach.
• An overview of ice nucleation protein.
• A very nice video demonstration of ice nucleation activity I created many years ago with Puget Sound students.
• The relationship between ice nucleation protein and the commercial substance “SnowMax.”
• Information from the Centers for Disease Control on Listeria. 
• A description of listeriosis, caused by Listeria.
• A cute plush toy depicting Listeria, by the Giant Microbes company.
• A recent review article on Listeria and listeriosis.
• A video depicting “actin rockets” allowing Listeria to move within eukaryotic cells.
• A review article on actin-related motility of intracellular bacteria.
• A description of a recent Listeria outbreak.
• Advice for consumers regarding avoiding listeriosis.  
• The United States Department of Agriculture group on food safety and surveillance. 
• Articles by Dr. Gorski and colleagues on topics under discussion today.
• Dr. Gorski’s LinkedIn profile.

Intro music is by Reber Clark

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