Incongruence between the cps type 2 genotype and host-related phenotypes of an Enterococcus faecalis food isolate

► Study of an ST72 food E. faecalis strain, previously shown to be virulent in an insect model. ► Strain was good biofilm former, adhered to epithelial cells and was eliminated by macrophages. ► It carried the cps locus associated with CPS 2 type, but cps genes were not expressed. ► First study reporting traits relevant for colonization and infection of the host, on a food isolate. ► Results point out the need for methods to assess enterococcal virulence potential in mammals.