The use of next-generation sequencing technologies such as whole-genome sequencing (WGS) facilitates foodborne outbreak investigations, pathogen source tracking and tracing geographic distributions of different clonal complexes, routine microbiological/epidemiological surveillance of listeriosis, and quantitative microbial risk assessment.  WGS can also be used to predict various genetic traits related to virulence, stress, or antimicrobial resistance, which can be of great benefit for improving food safety management as well as public health.
WGS
The use of next-generation sequencing technologies such as whole-genome sequencing (WGS) facilitates foodborne outbreak investigations, pathogen source tracking and tracing geographic distributions of different clonal complexes, routine microbiological/epidemiological surveillance of listeriosis, and quantitative microbial risk assessment. 
Whole-genome sequencing