Expression of truncated Internalin A is involved in impaired internalization of some Listeria monocytogenes isolates carried asymptomatically by humans.

ABSTRACT: Fourteen human carriage Listeria monocytogenes isolates were compared to sporadic and epidemic-associated human strains in order to ascertain the pathogenic behavior of these unrecognized asymptomatic strains. Experimental infection of 14-day-old chick embryos revealed that the majority of the carriage strains were attenuated for virulence. Of the 10 attenuated carriage strains, 5 were affected in their invasion capacities in vitro. Western blot analysis with antibody directed against InlA, the surface protein implicated in the internalization in host cells, allowed correlation between the ability of the carriage strains to enter Caco-2 cells and InlA expression. Indeed, these five carriage strains produced truncated forms of InlA. Four of the five truncated forms of InlA had an apparent m

SUBMITTER: Olier M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC148840 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature