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Listeria monocytogenes Infection of the Brain
05:02

Listeria monocytogenes Infection of the Brain

Published on: October 2, 2018

Axonal transport of Listeria monocytogenes and nerve-cell-induced bacterial killing

Lone Dons1, Yuxuan Jin, Krister Kristensson

  • 1Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark.

Journal of Neuroscience Research
|March 28, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Listeria monocytogenes bacteria can travel inside nerve axons to reach the brain. This review details bacterial mechanisms for intra-axonal migration and immune responses that may control Listeria spread.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Microbiology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogen capable of causing severe neurological disease, including encephalitis, in both humans and sheep.
  • The bacteria's ability to invade the central nervous system (CNS) is a critical factor in disease pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the mechanisms by which Listeria monocytogenes invades and spreads within the nervous system.
  • To elucidate the bacterial strategies for intra-axonal migration and the host immune responses involved.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing scientific literature on Listeria monocytogenes neuroinvasion.
  • Analysis of proposed molecular mechanisms for bacterial movement within neuronal axons.
  • Examination of the host immune system's role in controlling bacterial spread.

Main Results:

  • Listeria monocytogenes can be incorporated into axons after replication in macrophages/dendritic cells.
  • Bacteria utilize asymmetric cometic tails for rapid intra-axonal (retrograde and anterograde) migration.
  • The immune response plays a role in controlling bacterial spread via peripheral neurons.

Conclusions:

  • Listeria monocytogenes employs specific molecular mechanisms for efficient neuroinvasion.
  • Understanding these mechanisms and immune interactions is crucial for combating Listeria encephalitis.
  • A nitric oxide-dependent pathway may contribute to bacterial killing within infected neurons.

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