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Imaging InlC Secretion to Investigate Cellular Infection by the Bacterial Pathogen Listeria monocytogenes
14:05

Imaging InlC Secretion to Investigate Cellular Infection by the Bacterial Pathogen Listeria monocytogenes

Published on: September 19, 2013

The actin-based motility of the facultative intracellular pathogen Listeria monocytogenes

P Cossart1, C Kocks

  • 1Unité des Interactions Bactéries-Cellules, CNRS URA, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.

Molecular Microbiology
|August 1, 1994
PubMed

Insights

Listeria monocytogenes uses actin-based motility to move within host cells and spread infection. This review details the bacterial and cellular factors driving this essential pathogenicity mechanism.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive bacterium that invades eukaryotic cells.
  • It possesses the ability to move within the host cell cytoplasm and spread between cells, a key factor in pathogenicity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the bacterial and cellular factors involved in the actin-based motility of Listeria monocytogenes.
  • To elucidate the mechanism of intracellular movement and cell-to-cell spread.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on Listeria monocytogenes pathogenesis.
  • Analysis of bacterial and host cell factors contributing to actin-based motility.

Main Results:

  • Actin assembly at the bacterium's rear generates propulsive force for intracellular movement.
  • Bacteria reaching the plasma membrane induce protrusions, facilitating cell-to-cell spread.
  • Similar actin-based motility mechanisms are observed in unrelated pathogens like Shigella and Rickettsia.

Conclusions:

  • Actin-based motility is a critical virulence factor for Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing strategies against Listeria infections.

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