Compositions, kits and related methods for the detection and/or monitoring of listeria

1. A method for detecting Listeria in a sample, the method comprising:

performing a nucleic acid amplification assay to generate an amplification product from a Listeria nucleic acid using a set of oligonucleotides comprising a T7 provider oligonucleotide and a primer oligonucleotide, wherein the T7 provider oligonucleotide has the sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO:55 and the primer oligonucleotide has the sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:64, 65, & 68, and

detecting the presence or absence of amplification product utilizing a detection oligonucleotide that specifically hybridizes to the amplification product, wherein the detection oligonucleotide is a molecular torch having the sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO:78,

wherein the presence of the amplification product indicates the presence of Listeria in the sample.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the primer oligonucleotide has the sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO:64.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the primer oligonucleotide has the sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO:68.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the primer oligonucleotide has the sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO:65.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein, before the step of performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction, there is a nucleic acid purification step.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid purification step is a target capture reaction whereby the Listeria nucleic acid is captured to a solid support.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the solid support is a magnetic particle.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the solid support is attached to an immobilized probe, and wherein the target capture reaction uses a target capture probe.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the target capture probe has the sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO:37.