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Listeria monocytogenes Infection of the Brain
05:02

Listeria monocytogenes Infection of the Brain

Published on: October 2, 2018

[Streptococcus pyogenes and the brain: living with the enemy]

R C Dale1

  • 1Neurosciences Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College Londres, Reino Unido. r.dale@ion.ucl.ac.uk

Revista De Neurologia
|July 16, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Streptococcus pyogenes can cause autoimmune brain disorders like Sydenham's chorea, tics, and OCD. Antibodies from infection may cross-react with brain proteins, potentially explaining these conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroimmunology
  • Microbiology
  • Psychiatry

Context:

  • Streptococcus pyogenes (group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus) is a human pathogen causing various diseases, including tonsillitis and autoimmune conditions.
  • Post-infectious autoimmune brain disorders, such as Sydenham's chorea, are linked to streptococcal infections.
  • Recent research expands the spectrum of these disorders to include movement and emotional conditions like tics, dystonia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Purpose:

  • To explore the potential role of Streptococcus pyogenes in a broader range of neurological and psychiatric disorders.
  • To investigate the pathogenetic mechanism involving antibody-mediated neuronal dysfunction following streptococcal infection.

Summary:

  • Streptococcus pyogenes infection can trigger an autoimmune response where antibodies cross-react with neuronal proteins.
  • This cross-reactivity, particularly in susceptible individuals, may underlie movement disorders (tics, dystonia) and psychiatric conditions (OCD).
  • This immunological mimicry offers a potential model for understanding idiopathic disorders like Tourette syndrome and OCD.

Impact:

  • Highlights the significance of identifying streptococcal infections in patients with unexplained neurological and psychiatric symptoms.
  • Suggests a potential therapeutic target by modulating the autoimmune response.
  • Provides a novel perspective on the etiology of certain idiopathic neurological and psychiatric disorders.

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