Characterization of Listeria monocytogenes Pathogenesis in a

  • Walk H
N/ACitations
Citations of this article
11Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

Listeriolysin O (LLO) is a pore-forming cytolysin that enables Listeria monocytogenes to escape from a host cell vacuole. The structural gene for the related cytolysin perfringolysin O (pfo) was cloned downstream from the promoter for hly, the gene encoding LLO, both on a plasmid and on the L. monocytogenes chromosome. Both strains secreted active PFO, although regulation was not identical to that of LLO. The chromosomal PFO-expressing strain was characterized for intracellular growth and cell-to-cell spread. It escaped from a host cell vacuole with 64% efficiency compared with the wild type as determined by immunofluorescent staining of bacteria for F-actin, a marker for entry into the cytoplasm. In addition, it replicated intracellularly with a doubling time similar to that of the wild type for 5 h, after which growth was aborted because of a cytotoxic effect on the host cell and influx of extracellular gentamicin. The chromosomal PFO strain was able to plaque in mouse L2 fibroblasts, but it did so at 20% efficiency compared with the wild type and the plaques were significantly smaller. Both strains expressing PFO were completely avirulent in mice. These results indicate that PFO can mediate escape from a host cell vacuole but cannot complement an hly deletion strain for virulence.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Walk, H. (1994). Characterization of Listeria monocytogenes Pathogenesis in a. Infection and Immunity, 62(12), 5608–5613. Retrieved from http://iai.asm.org/content/62/12/5608.long

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free