listeria

[ li-steer-ee-uh ]

noun

, Bacteriology.

1. any of several rod-shaped, aerobic, parasitic bacteria of the genus Listeria, pathogenic for humans and animals.

listeria

/ lɪsˈtɪərɪə /

noun

1. any rodlike Gram-positive bacterium of the genus Listeria , esp L. monocytogenes , the cause of listeriosis

Derived Forms

• lisˈterial, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of listeria¹

1960–65; < New Latin, named after J. Lister; -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of listeria¹

C20: named after Joseph Lister

Example Sentences

On the disinfecting front, plasma jet treatments of less than a minute on foods including apples, cherry tomatoes and lettuce can reduce disease-causing bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella and Listeria.

From Science News

We had a weird one where we had listeria growing on caramel apples.

From Popular-Science

A detection method stopped a deadly Listeria outbreak associated with contaminated cheese.

From The Daily Beast

We also follow Listeria and toxin-producing bugs like E. coli O157:H7—the “raw hamburger” bug.

From The Daily Beast