Listeria Flashcards
Listeria monocytogenes is found where at what temperature?
Reservoir in soil and sometimes found in animals. It can grow at 4 degrees Celsius.
Listeria monocytogenes is a gram _____ bacteria with a shape _____
gram positive bacteria with coccobacilli
Listeria monocytogenes caused food born infections from what in California in 2011 resulting in 30 deaths?
Cantaloupes
What is the symptoms of Listeria monoctogenes?
- Fever
- Muscle aches (resembling flu)
- sometimes diarrhea
Is Listeria monocytogens different in immunocompromised people?
Yes it is worse in those immunocompromised
What extra risk do pregant woman with L. monocytogens have?
- risk of miscarriage
- stillbirth
- premature delivery
- neonatal infections (high mortality)
What is the pathway of Listeria monocytogens?
Goes from contaminated food —–> Intestines —-> to the blood stream which —-> goes to both the liver and the spleen —-> continues through the blood stream and goes to both —-> brain and placenta.
Listeria virulences include what:
- M cells
- Internalin
- Listeriolysin O (llo)
- PlcA and Plc B
- Listeriolysin S
- Actin polymerization gene (act A )
How does M cells play a role in Listeria’s virulence?
Enters through M cells in the intestinal mucosa.
How does Internalin (inlA, inlB) play a role in Listeria’s virulence?
entry into cells
How does Listeriolysin O (llo) play a role in Listeria’s virulence?
it is a pore formin cyotoxin that promotes the escape from vacuole; required for escape in mouse
How does PlcA and PlcB play a role in Listeria’s virulence?
pore forming phospholipases required for escape in humans
Listeriolysin S is a virulence factor of Listeria which is similar to what?
Streptolysin S
How does Actin polymerization gene (actA) play a role in Listeria’s virulence?
intracellular transport
How does the Actin polymerization gene promote intracellular transport?
The surface protein ActA mimics the host proteins, recruits the host Arp2/3 complex, and promotes actin polymerization, formation of an actin tail, and a movement from cell to another cell.
