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Cellular Microbiology Apr 2020Listeria monocytogenes causes listeriosis, a systemic infection which manifests as bacteremia, often complicated by meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised individuals... (Review)
Review
Listeria monocytogenes causes listeriosis, a systemic infection which manifests as bacteremia, often complicated by meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised individuals and the elderly, and fetal-placental infection in pregnant women. It has emerged over the past decades as a major foodborne pathogen, responsible for numerous outbreaks in Western countries, and more recently in Africa. L. monocytogenes' pathogenic properties have been studied in detail, thanks to concomitant advances in biological sciences, in particular molecular biology, cell biology and immunology. L. monocytogenes has also been instrumental to basic advances in life sciences. L. monocytogenes therefore stands both a tool to understand biology and a model in infection biology. This review briefly summarises the clinical and some of the pathophysiological features of listeriosis. In the context of this special issue, it highlights some of the major discoveries made by Pascale Cossart in the fields of molecular and cellular microbiology since the mid-eighties regarding the identification and characterisation of multiple bacterial and host factors critical to L. monocytogenes pathogenicity. It also briefly summarises some of the key findings from our laboratory on this topic over the past years.
Topics: Animals; Food Microbiology; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Listeria monocytogenes; Listeriosis; Mice; Sepsis
PubMed: 32185900
DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13186 -
Trends in Microbiology Sep 2021Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen responsible for listeriosis, an infection that can manifest in humans as bacteremia, meningoencephalitis in... (Review)
Review
Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen responsible for listeriosis, an infection that can manifest in humans as bacteremia, meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised patients and the elderly, and fetal-placental infection in pregnant women. Reference strains from this facultative intracellular bacterium have been instrumental in the investigation of basic mechanisms in microbiology, immunology, and cell biology. The integration of bacterial population genomics with environmental, epidemiological, and clinical data allowed the uncovering of new factors involved in the virulence of L. monocytogenes and its adaptation to different environments. This review illustrates how these investigations have led to a better understanding of the bacterium's virulence and the driving forces that shaped it.
Topics: Adaptation, Physiological; Animals; Biodiversity; Humans; Listeria monocytogenes; Listeriosis; Virulence
PubMed: 33583696
DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2021.01.008 -
The Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary... Oct 2020Listeria monocytogenes is a zoonotic food-borne pathogen that is associated with serious public health and economic implications. In animals, L. monocytogenes can be... (Review)
Review
Listeria monocytogenes is a zoonotic food-borne pathogen that is associated with serious public health and economic implications. In animals, L. monocytogenes can be associated with clinical listeriosis, which is characterised by symptoms such as abortion, encephalitis and septicaemia. In human beings, listeriosis symptoms include encephalitis, septicaemia and meningitis. In addition, listeriosis may cause gastroenteric symptoms in human beings and still births or spontaneous abortions in pregnant women. In the last few years, a number of reported outbreaks and sporadic cases associated with consumption of contaminated meat and meat products with L. monocytogenes have increased in developing countries. A variety of virulence factors play a role in the pathogenicity of L. monocytogenes. This zoonotic pathogen can be diagnosed using both classical microbiological techniques and molecular-based methods. There is limited information about L. monocytogenes recovered from meat and meat products in African countries. This review strives to: (1) provide information on prevalence and control measures of L. monocytogenes along the meat value chain, (2) describe the epidemiology of L. monocytogenes (3) provide an overview of different methods for detection and typing of L. monocytogenes for epidemiological, regulatory and trading purposes and (4) discuss the pathogenicity, virulence traits and antimicrobial resistance profiles of L. monocytogenes.
Topics: Africa; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Food Microbiology; Humans; Listeria monocytogenes; Listeriosis; Meat; Meat Products
PubMed: 33054262
DOI: 10.4102/ojvr.v87i1.1869 -
MBio Jun 2017The Gram-positive facultative intracellular bacterium is the causative agent of listeriosis, a severe food-borne infection. Pregnant women are at risk of contracting... (Review)
Review
The Gram-positive facultative intracellular bacterium is the causative agent of listeriosis, a severe food-borne infection. Pregnant women are at risk of contracting listeriosis, which can potentially lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, and congenital neonatal infections. While other systemic bacterial infections may result in adverse pregnancy outcomes at comparable frequencies, has particular notoriety because fetal complications largely occur in the absence of overt illness in the mother, delaying medical intervention. Here, we briefly review the pathophysiology and mechanisms of maternofetal listeriosis, discussed in light of a recent report on transplacental infection in a nonhuman primate model.
Topics: Female; Humans; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; Listeria monocytogenes; Listeriosis; Placenta; Pregnancy
PubMed: 28655824
DOI: 10.1128/mBio.00949-17 -
Microbiology Spectrum Jul 2019Whereas obligate human and animal bacterial pathogens may be able to depend upon the warmth and relative stability of their chosen replication niche, environmental... (Review)
Review
Whereas obligate human and animal bacterial pathogens may be able to depend upon the warmth and relative stability of their chosen replication niche, environmental bacteria such as that harbor the ability to replicate both within animal cells and in the outside environment must maintain the capability to manage life under a variety of disparate conditions. Bacterial life in the outside environment requires adaptation to wide ranges of temperature, available nutrients, and physical stresses such as changes in pH and osmolarity as well as desiccation. Following ingestion by a susceptible animal host, the bacterium must adapt to similar changes during transit through the gastrointestinal tract and overcome a variety of barriers associated with host innate immune responses. Rapid alteration of patterns of gene expression and protein synthesis represent one strategy for quickly adapting to a dynamic host landscape. Here, we provide an overview of the impressive variety of strategies employed by the soil-dwelling, foodborne, mammalian pathogen to straddle diverse environments and optimize bacterial fitness both inside and outside host cells.
Topics: Animals; Bacterial Proteins; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Listeria monocytogenes; Listeriosis; Osmolar Concentration; Virulence
PubMed: 31441398
DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.GPP3-0064-2019 -
Journal of Applied Microbiology Oct 2018Listeria monocytogenes is an intracellular human pathogen which enters the body through contaminated food stuffs and is known to contaminate fresh leafy produce such as... (Review)
Review
Listeria monocytogenes is an intracellular human pathogen which enters the body through contaminated food stuffs and is known to contaminate fresh leafy produce such as spinach, lettuce and rocket. Routinely, fresh leafy produce is grown and processed on a large scale before reaching the consumer through various products such as sandwiches and prepared salads. From farm to fork, the fresh leafy produce supply chain (FLPSC) is complex and contains a diverse range of environments where L. monocytogenes is sporadically detected during routine sampling of produce and processing areas. This review describes sources of the bacteria in the FLPSC and outlines the physiological and molecular mechanisms behind its survival in the different environments associated with growing and processing fresh produce. Finally, current methods of source tracking the bacteria in the context of the food supply chain are discussed with emphasis on how these methods can provide additional, valuable information on the risk that L. monocytogenes isolates pose to the consumer.
Topics: Colony Count, Microbial; Food Contamination; Food Handling; Humans; Listeria monocytogenes; Plant Leaves; Vegetables
PubMed: 30039586
DOI: 10.1111/jam.14025 -
Microbiology Spectrum Nov 2018The Gram-positive pathogen is able to promote its entry into a diverse range of mammalian host cells by triggering plasma membrane remodeling, leading to bacterial... (Review)
Review
The Gram-positive pathogen is able to promote its entry into a diverse range of mammalian host cells by triggering plasma membrane remodeling, leading to bacterial engulfment. Upon cell invasion, disrupts its internalization vacuole and translocates to the cytoplasm, where bacterial replication takes place. Subsequently, uses an actin-based motility system that allows bacterial cytoplasmic movement and cell-to-cell spread. therefore subverts host cell receptors, organelles and the cytoskeleton at different infection steps, manipulating diverse cellular functions that include ion transport, membrane trafficking, post-translational modifications, phosphoinositide production, innate immune responses as well as gene expression and DNA stability.
Topics: Actins; Adaptation, Biological; Animals; Bacterial Adhesion; Cell Membrane; Cytoplasm; Cytoskeleton; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Genomic Instability; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Ion Transport; Listeria monocytogenes; Listeriosis; Phosphatidylinositols; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Protein Transport; Vacuoles
PubMed: 30523778
DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.GPP3-0013-2018 -
Microbial Biotechnology Jul 2021Listeria monocytogenes is a highly pathogenic foodborne bacterium that is ubiquitous in the natural environment and capable of forming persistent biofilms in food... (Review)
Review
Listeria monocytogenes is a highly pathogenic foodborne bacterium that is ubiquitous in the natural environment and capable of forming persistent biofilms in food processing environments. This species has a rich repertoire of surface structures that enable it to survive, adapt and persist in various environments and promote biofilm formation. We review current understanding and advances on how L. monocytogenes organizes its surface for biofilm formation on surfaces associated with food processing settings, because they may be an important target for development of novel antibiofilm compounds. A synthesis of the current knowledge on the role of Listeria surfactome, comprising peptidoglycan, teichoic acids and cell wall proteins, during biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces is provided. We consider indications gained from genome-wide studies and discuss surfactome structures with established mechanistic aspects in biofilm formation. Additionally, we look at the analogies to the species L. innocua, which is closely related to L. monocytogenes and often used as its model (surrogate) organism.
Topics: Biofilms; Cell Wall; Food Handling; Listeria monocytogenes
PubMed: 34106516
DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.13847 -
Molecular Microbiology Mar 2020The acquisition process of antibiotic resistance in an otherwise susceptible organism is shaped by the ecology of the species. Unlike other relevant human pathogens,... (Review)
Review
The acquisition process of antibiotic resistance in an otherwise susceptible organism is shaped by the ecology of the species. Unlike other relevant human pathogens, Listeria monocytogenes has maintained a high rate of susceptibility to the antibiotics used for decades to treat human and animal infections. However, L. monocytogenes can acquire antibiotic resistance genes from other organisms' plasmids and conjugative transposons. Ecological factors could account for its susceptibility. L. monocytogenes is ubiquitous in nature, most frequently including reservoirs unexposed to antibiotics, including intracellular sanctuaries. L. monocytogenes has a remarkably closed genome, reflecting limited community interactions, small population sizes and high niche specialization. The L. monocytogenes species is divided into variants that are specialized in small specific niches, which reduces the possibility of coexistence with potential donors of antibiotic resistance. Interactions with potential donors are also hampered by interspecies antagonism. However, occasional increases in population sizes (and thus the possibility of acquiring antibiotic resistance) can derive from selection of the species based on intrinsic or acquired resistance to antibiotics, biocides, heavy metals or by a natural tolerance to extreme conditions. High-quality surveillance of the emergence of resistance to the key drugs used in primary therapy is mandatory.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Proteins; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Humans; Listeria monocytogenes; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Plasmids
PubMed: 32185838
DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14454 -
Nature Communications Nov 2021Listeria genus comprises two pathogenic species, L. monocytogenes (Lm) and L. ivanovii, and non-pathogenic species. All can thrive as saprophytes, whereas only...
Listeria genus comprises two pathogenic species, L. monocytogenes (Lm) and L. ivanovii, and non-pathogenic species. All can thrive as saprophytes, whereas only pathogenic species cause systemic infections. Identifying Listeria species' respective biotopes is critical to understand the ecological contribution of Listeria virulence. In order to investigate the prevalence and abundance of Listeria species in various sources, we retrieved and analyzed 16S rRNA datasets from MG-RAST metagenomic database. 26% of datasets contain Listeria sensu stricto sequences, and Lm is the most prevalent species, most abundant in soil and host-associated environments, including 5% of human stools. Lm is also detected in 10% of human stool samples from an independent cohort of 900 healthy asymptomatic donors. A specific microbiota signature is associated with Lm faecal carriage, both in humans and experimentally inoculated mice, in which it precedes Lm faecal carriage. These results indicate that Lm faecal carriage is common and depends on the gut microbiota, and suggest that Lm faecal carriage is a crucial yet overlooked consequence of its virulence.
Topics: Animals; Carrier State; DNA, Bacterial; Datasets as Topic; Disease Models, Animal; Feces; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Humans; Listeria monocytogenes; Male; Metagenomics; Mice; Phylogeny; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Virulence
PubMed: 34819495
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27069-y