Characterization of the pathogenesis and immune response to Listeria monocytogenes strains isolated from a sustained national outbreak.

ABSTRACT: Listeria monocytogenes is an intracellular pathogen responsible for listeriosis, a foodborne disease that can lead to life-threatening meningitis. The 2011 L. monocytogenes cantaloupe outbreak was among the deadliest foodborne outbreaks in the United States. We conducted in vitro and in vivo infection analyses to determine whether strains LS741 and LS743, two clinical isolates from the cantaloupe outbreak, differ significantly from the common laboratory strain 10403S. We showed that LS741 and LS743 exhibited increased virulence, characterized by higher colonization of the brain and other organs in mice. Assessment of cellular immune responses to known CD8⁺ T cell antigens was comparable between all strains. However, pre-existing immunity to 10403S did not confer protection in th

SUBMITTER: Ghosh P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6925182 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature