Tissue culture cell assays used to analyze Listeria monocytogenes

This unit describes tissue culture cell assays for analysis of the ability of Listeria monocytogenes to cause intracellular infection. It includes methods for evaluating the organism's ability to invade its host, to escape the primary vacuole formed upon invasion of host cells, to multiply within the cytosol of its host, and to spread from cell to cell without exiting the intracellular milieu. Each step can be evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively.