Increased Listeria monocytogenes Dissemination and Altered Population Dynamics in Muc2-Deficient Mice.

ABSTRACT: The mucin Muc2 is a major constituent of the mucus layer that covers the intestinal epithelium and creates a barrier between epithelial cells and luminal commensal or pathogenic microorganisms. The Gram-positive foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes can cause enteritis and also disseminate from the intestine to give rise to systemic disease. L. monocytogenes can bind to intestinal Muc2, but the influence of the Muc2 mucin barrier on L. monocytogenes intestinal colonization and systemic dissemination has not been explored. Here, we used an orogastric L. monocytogenes infection model to investigate the role of Muc2 in host defense against L. monocytogenes Compared to wild-type mice, we found that Muc2-/- mice exhibited heightened susceptibility to orogastric challenge with L. monocytogen

SUBMITTER: Zhang T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8090952 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature