Illuminating the landscape of host-pathogen interactions with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Dec 6;108(49):19484-91. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1112371108. Epub 2011 Nov 23.

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes has, in 25 y, become a model in infection biology. Through the analysis of both its saprophytic life and infectious process, new concepts in microbiology, cell biology, and pathogenesis have been discovered. This review will update our knowledge on this intracellular pathogen and highlight the most recent breakthroughs. Promising areas of investigation such as the increasingly recognized relevance for the infectious process, of RNA-mediated regulations in the bacterium, and the role of bacterially controlled posttranslational and epigenetic modifications in the host will also be discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
  • Genome, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Genomics
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Humans
  • Listeria monocytogenes / genetics*
  • Listeria monocytogenes / pathogenicity
  • Listeria monocytogenes / physiology*
  • Listeriosis / microbiology*
  • Virulence / genetics