Sequences homologous to the listeriolysin O gene region of Listeria monocytogenes are present in virulent and avirulent haemolytic species of the genus Listeria.

Various parts of the hlyA gene region of Listeria monocytogenes which encodes a major virulence factor, listeriolysin O, have been used to detect the presence of homologous sequences in other species of the genus Listeria. Under low-stringency hybridization conditions, sequences homologous to the hlyA gene and its 5' adjacent regions were detected in the haemolytic and pathogenic species L. ivanovii, and in the haemolytic but non-pathogenic species L. seeligeri. In contrast, the region located downstream from hlyA appeared specific to L. monocytogenes. None of the probes spanning the region revealed homologies between L. monocytogenes and the non-pathogenic and non-haemolytic members of the genus, L. innocua, L. murrayi and L. welshimeri. Among various strains of L. monocytogenes tested, the gene hlyA and its 3' adjacent region appeared well-conserved. In contrast, a restriction length polymorphism was detected in the region located upstream from hlyA with no obvious correlation with the haemolytic phenotype or the serovar of the strains tested.