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Listeria monocytogenes Infection of the Brain
05:02

Listeria monocytogenes Infection of the Brain

Published on: October 2, 2018

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Potential Roles and Functions of Listerial Virulence Factors during Brain Entry

Franjo Banović1, Horst Schroten1, Christian Schwerk1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany.

Toxins
|May 9, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Listeria monocytogenes uses specific virulence factors to invade the brain, a critical step in causing serious infections like meningitis. Understanding these factors is key to preventing severe Listeria monocytogenes disease.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) rarely causes human disease but leads to severe conditions like meningitis and sepsis.
  • Lm virulence factors (VF), including internalin (Inl) and listeriolysin O (LLO), facilitate crossing cellular barriers.
  • Research has primarily focused on gut and fetoplacental barrier penetration, leaving organ-specific invasion mechanisms partially understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on Listeria monocytogenes entry into the brain.
  • To highlight the role of specific virulence factors in Lm brain invasion, focusing on cellular adhesion and invasion.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of in vitro and in vivo studies on Lm pathogenesis.
  • Analysis of research focusing on Listeria monocytogenes interactions with brain cells.
  • Synthesis of data on the function of key virulence factors during central nervous system invasion.

Main Results:

  • Specific virulence factors are crucial for Lm adhesion to and invasion of brain cells.
  • Internalin family members and listeriolysin O play significant roles in crossing the blood-brain barrier.
  • The precise mechanisms of Lm entry into various brain tissues are still under investigation.

Conclusions:

  • Virulence factors are essential for Listeria monocytogenes to invade the brain.
  • Further research into these factors is needed to understand and combat Lm-induced neuroinfections.
Keywords:
Listeria monocytogenesautolysinbrain invasioninternalinlisteriolysinvirulence factors

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