[Changes in the virulence factor expression level in Listeria monocytogenes under various environmental conditions]

Effects of chelators Chelex-100 and activated charcoal on the production of proteins responsible for virulence of Listeria monocytogenes, facultative intracellular parasite were studied. Bivalent cation chelator Chelex-100 stimulates the production of only thiol-dependent hemolysin listeriolysin O. The presence of activated charcoal, a nonspecific chelator, in culture medium stimulated the expression of listeriolysin O and other main virulence factors by increasing the level of their transcription.