Recent advances in understanding Listeria monocytogenes infection: the importance of subcellular and physiological context

F1000Res. 2017 Jul 13:6:F1000 Faculty Rev-1126. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.11363.1. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

The bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes ( Lm) is the causative agent of listeriosis, a rare but fatal foodborne disease. During infection, Lm can traverse several host barriers and enter the cytosol of a variety of cell types. Thus, consideration of the extracellular and intracellular niches of Lm is critical for understanding the infection process. Here, we review advances in our understanding of Lm infection and highlight how the interactions between the host and the pathogen are context dependent. We discuss discoveries of how Lm senses entry into the host cell cytosol. We present findings concerning how the nature of the various cytoskeleton components subverted by Lm changes depending on both the stage of infection and the subcellular context. We present discoveries of critical components required for Lm traversal of physiological barriers. Interactions between the host gut microbiota and Lm will be briefly discussed. Finally, the importance of Lm biodiversity and post-genomics approaches as a promising way to discover novel virulence factors will be highlighted.

Keywords: Foodborne disease; Listeria monocytogene; listeriosis.

Publication types

  • Review

Grants and funding

Daryl J.V. David is supported by an EMBO Long Term Fellowship (ALTF 140-2014) and the European Commission/Marie Curie Actions (EMBOCOFUND2012, GA-2012-600394).