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Updated: Jul 13, 2026
Measuring Bacterial Load and Immune Responses in Mice Infected with Listeria monocytogenes
Published on: August 9, 2011
Gut Microbiota Protects Listeria monocytogenes-Infected Mice by Reducing the Inflammatory Cytokines Storm and Cell
Liang Guo1,2, Qing Liu2, Xianhong Yin1
1College of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Zaozhuang University, Shandong, China.
Abstract:
Gut microbiota (GM) has been proven to resist pathogenic infection through nutritional competition, colonization resistance and promotion of the host immune response. However, in clinical practice, GM is mainly used in intestinal diseases, such as Clostridium difficile infection, and there are few reports on its application in the treatment of pathogenic bacterial infections. In this study, GM from healthy mice was transplanted into mice infected with Listeria monocytogenes using fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and the effects were observed. We found that GM from healthy mice could reduce the mortality of infected mice and decrease the counts of L. monocytogenes in their liver and spleen. In addition, FMT inhibited the expression of inflammatory factors in the liver and spleen of infected mice. In vitro cell experiments revealed that GM can reduce the count of L. monocytogenes invading Caco-2 cells and inhibit the L. monocytogenes-caused apoptosis. These results indicate that GM can be used to protect mice infected with L. monocytogenes by eliminating the amount of L. monocytogenes in the host and inhibiting the overexpression of inflammatory factors. Hence, this method can potentially replace antibiotics in the treatment of L. monocytogenes infection.
Insights
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) using healthy gut microbes reduced mortality in mice infected with Listeria monocytogenes. This study shows FMT
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Gut microbiota (GM) confers resistance to pathogens via competition, colonization resistance, and immune modulation.
- Current clinical applications of GM primarily target intestinal diseases, with limited use against systemic bacterial infections.
- The potential of GM in treating infections beyond the gut remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in treating Listeria monocytogenes infection.
- To evaluate the impact of GM transplantation on host survival, bacterial load, and inflammatory responses.
- To explore the protective mechanisms of GM against bacterial invasion and host cell apoptosis.
Main Methods:
- Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from healthy mice to L. monocytogenes-infected mice.
- Quantification of L. monocytogenes in liver and spleen.
- Measurement of inflammatory factor expression in infected tissues.
- In vitro assessment of GM's effect on bacterial invasion and apoptosis in Caco-2 cells.
Main Results:
- FMT significantly reduced mortality rates in infected mice.
- Transplanted GM decreased L. monocytogenes loads in the liver and spleen.
- FMT suppressed the expression of inflammatory factors in infected organs.
- In vitro, GM reduced bacterial invasion of Caco-2 cells and inhibited L. monocytogenes-induced apoptosis.
Conclusions:
- Gut microbiota transplantation effectively protects against Listeria monocytogenes infection in mice.
- FMT mitigates bacterial burden and dampens excessive inflammation, offering a potential alternative to antibiotics.
- These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of GM for treating systemic bacterial infections.
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