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The molecular mechanisms of actin-based intracellular motility by Listeria monocytogenes
1Institute of Medical Microbiology, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany. trinad.chakraborty@mikrobio.med.uni-giessen.de
Abstract:
A key virulence trait of bacteria and viruses that multiply in the cytoplasm of the infected cell is their ability to direct movement intracellularly and to spread from cell-to-cell. Intracellular movement is effected by harnessing components of the host microfilament system. This mode of locomotion by intracytoplasmic parasites has recently gained much interest as a model to examine microfilament assembly and function. Of the intracellular bacteria employing association with the host cytoskeleton to effect movement, the Gram-positive pathogen Listeria monocytogenes is the most well studied. This review summarizes the current state of the understanding, at the molecular level, of how L. monocytogenes subverts the host cell contractile machinery to meet its own need to move and spread within infected host cells.
Insights
Bacteria like Listeria monocytogenes move within host cells by hijacking the cell's own internal structures. Understanding this bacterial movement mechanism is key to fighting infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology
- Pathogenesis
Background:
- Intracellular pathogens, including bacteria and viruses, utilize host cell machinery for movement and spread.
- The host cell's microfilament system is a common target for intracellular pathogen locomotion.
- Listeria monocytogenes, a Gram-positive pathogen, is a well-studied model for understanding host-pathogen interactions involving the cytoskeleton.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the molecular mechanisms by which Listeria monocytogenes exploits the host cell's cytoskeleton.
- To elucidate how L. monocytogenes achieves intracellular movement and cell-to-cell spread.
- To provide an updated understanding of host cell subversion by intracellular bacteria.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on Listeria monocytogenes pathogenesis.
- Analysis of molecular mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions.
- Focus on the subversion of the host cell's contractile machinery.
Main Results:
- Listeria monocytogenes effectively hijacks host actin filaments for propulsion.
- Specific bacterial factors mediate the recruitment and assembly of host actin.
- This subversion enables efficient intracellular motility and intercellular dissemination.
Conclusions:
- Listeria monocytogenes provides a powerful model for studying host cytoskeleton dynamics.
- Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing novel therapeutic strategies against bacterial infections.
- Targeting bacterial manipulation of the host cytoskeleton could inhibit pathogen spread.