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Updated: Oct 12, 2025
Oral Transmission of Listeria monocytogenes in Mice via Ingestion of Contaminated Food
Published on: May 6, 2013
Listeria monocytogenes faecal carriage is common and depends on the gut microbiota
Lukas Hafner1, Maxime Pichon2,3,4, Christophe Burucoa2,3,4
1Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Inserm U1117, Biology of Infection Unit, 75015, Paris, France.
Abstract:
Listeria genus comprises two pathogenic species, L. monocytogenes (Lm) and L. ivanovii, and non-pathogenic species. All can thrive as saprophytes, whereas only pathogenic species cause systemic infections. Identifying Listeria species' respective biotopes is critical to understand the ecological contribution of Listeria virulence. In order to investigate the prevalence and abundance of Listeria species in various sources, we retrieved and analyzed 16S rRNA datasets from MG-RAST metagenomic database. 26% of datasets contain Listeria sensu stricto sequences, and Lm is the most prevalent species, most abundant in soil and host-associated environments, including 5% of human stools. Lm is also detected in 10% of human stool samples from an independent cohort of 900 healthy asymptomatic donors. A specific microbiota signature is associated with Lm faecal carriage, both in humans and experimentally inoculated mice, in which it precedes Lm faecal carriage. These results indicate that Lm faecal carriage is common and depends on the gut microbiota, and suggest that Lm faecal carriage is a crucial yet overlooked consequence of its virulence.
Insights
Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) is frequently found in human stools, indicating common fecal carriage. Gut microbiota composition influences Lm presence, suggesting it
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Metagenomics
- Ecology
Background:
- The Listeria genus includes pathogenic species like Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) and Listeria ivanovii, alongside non-pathogenic species.
- Pathogenic Listeria species can cause systemic infections, while all can exist as saprophytes.
- Understanding the ecological niches of Listeria species is crucial for deciphering the role of virulence factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and abundance of Listeria species across diverse environmental and host-associated sources.
- To explore the association between gut microbiota and Listeria monocytogenes fecal carriage.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequencing datasets from the MG-RAST metagenomic database.
- Examination of an independent cohort of 900 healthy asymptomatic individuals for Lm presence in stool samples.
- Microbiota profiling in humans and experimentally inoculated mice to identify associated signatures.
Main Results:
- Listeria sensu stricto sequences were present in 26% of analyzed datasets.
- Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) was the most prevalent and abundant species, particularly in soil and host-associated environments, including 5% of human stools.
- Lm was detected in 10% of stool samples from a cohort of 900 healthy individuals, with a specific microbiota signature preceding its carriage.
Conclusions:
- Listeria monocytogenes fecal carriage is common in humans and is influenced by the gut microbiota composition.
- The gut microbiota plays a significant role in facilitating or modulating Lm fecal carriage.
- Lm fecal carriage is a critical, yet often underestimated, outcome of its pathogenic virulence.
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