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Updated: Feb 2, 2026
Measuring Bacterial Load and Immune Responses in Mice Infected with Listeria monocytogenes
Published on: August 9, 2011
Vaccine strain Listeria monocytogenes bacteremia occurring 31 months after immunization
Elias Fares1,2, Cindy B McCloskey3, Andres Gutierrez4
1Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 800 Stanton L. Young Blvd, Suite 7300, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.
Background:
Listeria monocytogenes is a food-borne, facultative intracellular bacterium that causes severe diseases such as sepsis and meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised hosts. Because it stimulates robust T-lymphocyte-mediated responses, attenuated L. monocytogenes are candidate vaccine vectors for tumor immunotherapy.
Case:
We report a case of bacteremia caused by vaccine strain L. monocytogenes (Axalimogene filolisbac) occurring 31 months after immunization against human papilloma virus (HPV) associated cervical cancer.
Conclusion:
Receipt of a L. monocytogenes-based vaccine is a novel risk factor for delayed L. monocytogenes bacteremia.
Insights
A Listeria monocytogenes-based vaccine, used for cancer immunotherapy, was linked to a rare case of delayed bacteremia. This finding identifies a new risk factor for Listeria monocytogenes infections years after vaccination.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Oncology
Background:
- Listeria monocytogenes is an intracellular bacterium causing severe illness in immunocompromised individuals.
- Attenuated L. monocytogenes strains are explored as vaccine vectors for cancer immunotherapy due to their T-lymphocyte stimulation.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is a common preventative measure for cervical cancer.
Observation:
- A case of bacteremia was reported in a patient due to a vaccine strain of L. monocytogenes (Axalimogene filolisbac).
- This event occurred 31 months post-immunization with an HPV-associated cervical cancer vaccine.
Findings:
- Receipt of a L. monocytogenes-based vaccine is identified as a novel risk factor for delayed L. monocytogenes bacteremia.
- The study highlights a potential long-term complication associated with using L. monocytogenes as a vaccine vector.
Implications:
- This finding necessitates careful consideration of L. monocytogenes vaccine vector safety and long-term monitoring.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms and incidence of delayed infections following L. monocytogenes-based vaccinations.
- Clinical vigilance for L. monocytogenes infections is crucial in patients with a history of L. monocytogenes-based immunotherapy.
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