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Updated: Aug 21, 2026

Imaging InlC Secretion to Investigate Cellular Infection by the Bacterial Pathogen Listeria monocytogenes
14:05

Imaging InlC Secretion to Investigate Cellular Infection by the Bacterial Pathogen Listeria monocytogenes

Published on: September 19, 2013

Molecular determinants of Listeria monocytogenes virulence

Olivier Dussurget1, Javier Pizarro-Cerda, Pascale Cossart

  • 1Unité des Interactions Bactéries-Cellules, Institut Pasteur, INSERM U604, 75015 Paris, France. odussur@pasteur.fr

Annual Review of Microbiology
|October 19, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Listeria monocytogenes causes severe foodborne illness. This review details its virulence factors and how they contribute to listeriosis infection and spread.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pathogenesis

Background:

  • Listeria monocytogenes is a dangerous foodborne pathogen.
  • It causes severe infections like meningitis and abortions.
  • It's a facultative intracellular pathogen.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review virulence factors of L. monocytogenes.
  • To explore their role in listeriosis pathophysiology.
  • To cover established and recent advances.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of established and recent research.
  • Analysis of L. monocytogenes virulence determinants.
  • Examination of cellular mechanisms in infection.

Main Results:

  • L. monocytogenes utilizes specific virulence factors for cell invasion.
  • Actin-based motility facilitates cell-to-cell spread.
  • Pathophysiology involves intracellular survival and dissemination.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding virulence factors is key to combating listeriosis.
  • Recent advances provide new insights into L. monocytogenes pathogenesis.
  • Targeting these determinants may offer therapeutic strategies.

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