KRCC1 and listeriosis: Since serotype 4b strains have been found as the etiological agent of the majority of epidemic or sporadic human listeriosis cases in many countries, including Ireland (Schuchat et al., 1991; Swaminathan and Gerner-Smidt, 2007; Fox et al., 2012), and hly is a key gene for the virulence potential of L. monocytogenes (Gaillard et al., 1986; Roberts et al., 2005), the correlation between Irish strains and hly could imply a possible impact of geographical-specific diversification.