Identification and characterization of a novel PrfA-regulated gene in Listeria monocytogenes whose product, IrpA, is highly homologous to internalin proteins, which contain leucine-rich repeats

Is the exoproteome important for bacterial pathogenesis? Lessons learned from interstrain exoprotein diversity in Listeria monocytogenes grown at different temperatures

Bacterial exoproteomes vary in composition and quantity among species and within each species, depending on the environmental conditions to which the cells are exposed. This article critically reviews the literature available on exoproteins synthesized by the foodborne pathogenic bacterium Listeria monocytogenes grown at different temperatures. The main challenges posed for exoproteome analyses and the strategies that are being used to overcome these constraints are discussed. Over thirty exoproteins from L. monocytogenes are considered, and the multifunctionality of some of them is discussed. Thus, at the host temperature of 37°C, good examples are provided by Lmo0443, a potential marker for low virulence, and by the virulence factors internalin C (InlC) and listeriolysin O (LLO). Based on the reported LLO-induced mucin exocytosis, a model is proposed for the involvement of extracellular LLO in optimizing the conditions for InlC intervention in the invasion of intestinal epithelial cells. At lower growth temperatures, exoproteins such as flagellin (FlaA) and oligopeptide permease (OppA) may explain the persistence of particular strains in the food industry environment, eventually allowing the development of new tools to eradicate L. monocytogenes, a major concern for public health.

Comparative genomics and transcriptomics of lineages I, II, and III strains of Listeria monocytogenes

Background

Listeria monocytogenes is a food-borne pathogen that causes infections with a high-mortality rate and has served as an invaluable model for intracellular parasitism. Here, we report complete genome sequences for two L. monocytogenes strains belonging to serotype 4a (L99) and 4b (CLIP80459), and transcriptomes of representative strains from lineages I, II, and III, thereby permitting in-depth comparison of genome- and transcriptome -based data from three lineages of L. monocytogenes. Lineage III, represented by the 4a L99 genome is known to contain strains less virulent for humans.

Results

The genome analysis of the weakly pathogenic L99 serotype 4a provides extensive evidence of virulence gene decay, including loss of several important surface proteins. The 4b CLIP80459 genome, unlike the previously sequenced 4b F2365 genome harbours an intact inlB invasion gene. These lineage I strains are characterized by the lack of prophage genes, as they share only a single prophage locus with other L. monocytogenes genomes 1/2a EGD-e and 4a L99. Comparative transcriptome analysis during intracellular growth uncovered adaptive expression level differences in lineages I, II and III of Listeria, notable amongst which was a strong intracellular induction of flagellar genes in strain 4a L99 compared to the other lineages. Furthermore, extensive differences between strains are manifest at levels of metabolic flux control and phosphorylated sugar uptake. Intriguingly, prophage gene expression was found to be a hallmark of intracellular gene expression. Deletion mutants in the single shared prophage locus of lineage II strain EGD-e 1/2a, the lma operon, revealed severe attenuation of virulence in a murine infection model.

Conclusion

Comparative genomics and transcriptome analysis of L. monocytogenes strains from three lineages implicate prophage genes in intracellular adaptation and indicate that gene loss and decay may have led to the emergence of attenuated lineages.

The Listeria monocytogenes InlC protein interferes with innate immune responses by targeting the I{kappa}B kinase subunit IKK{alpha}

Listeria monocytogenes is an intracellular pathogen responsible for severe foodborne infections. It can replicate in both phagocytic and nonphagocytic mammalian cells. The infectious process at the cellular level has been studied extensively, but how the bacterium overcomes early host innate immune responses remains largely unknown. Here we show that InlC, a member of the internalin family, is secreted intracellularly and directly interacts with IKKα, a subunit of the IκB kinase complex critical for the phosphorylation of IκB and activation of NF-κB, the major regulator of innate immune responses. Infection experiments with WT Listeria or the inlC-deletion mutant and transfection of cells with InlC reveal that InlC expression impairs phosphorylation and consequently delays IκB degradation normally induced by TNF-α, a classical NF-κB stimulator. Moreover, infection of RAW 264.7 macrophages by the inlC mutant leads to increased production of proinflammatory cytokines compared with that obtained with the WT. Finally, in a peritonitis mouse model, we show that infection with the inlC mutant induces increased production of chemokines and increased recruitment of neutrophils in the peritoneal cavity compared with infection with WT. Together, these results demonstrate that InlC, by interacting with IKKα, dampens the host innate response induced by Listeria during the infection process.

Listeria monocytogenes PrsA2 is required for virulence factor secretion and bacterial viability within the host cell cytosol

In the course of establishing its replication niche within the cytosol of infected host cells, the facultative intracellular bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes must efficiently regulate the secretion and activity of multiple virulence factors. L. monocytogenes encodes two predicted posttranslocation secretion chaperones, PrsA1 and PrsA2, and evidence suggests that PrsA2 has been specifically adapted for bacterial pathogenesis. PrsA-like chaperones have been identified in a number of Gram-positive bacteria, where they are reported to function at the bacterial membrane-cell wall interface to assist in the folding of proteins translocated across the membrane; in some cases, these proteins have been found to be essential for bacterial viability. In this study, the contributions of PrsA2 and PrsA1 to L. monocytogenes growth and protein secretion were investigated in vitro and in vivo. Neither PrsA2 nor PrsA1 was found to be essential for L. monocytogenes growth in broth culture; however, optimal bacterial viability was found to be dependent upon PrsA2 for L. monocytogenes located within the cytosol of host cells. Proteomic analyses of prsA2 mutant strains in the presence of a mutationally activated allele of the virulence regulator PrfA revealed a critical requirement for PrsA2 activity under conditions of PrfA activation, an event which normally takes place within the host cell cytosol. Despite a high degree of amino acid similarity, no detectable degree of functional overlap was observed between PrsA2 and PrsA1. Our results indicate a critical requirement for PrsA2 under conditions relevant to host cell infection.

The Key Events Dose-Response Framework: its potential for application to foodborne pathogenic microorganisms

The Key Events Dose-Response Framework (KEDRF) is an analytical approach that facilitates the use of currently available data to gain insight regarding dose-response relationships. The use of the KEDRF also helps identify critical knowledge gaps that once filled, will reduce reliance on assumptions. The present study considers how the KEDRF might be applied to pathogenic microorganisms, using fetal listeriosis resulting from maternal ingestion of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes as an initial example. Major biological events along the pathway between food ingestion and the endpoint of concern are systematically considered with regard to dose (i.e., number of organisms), pathogen factors (e.g., virulence), and protective host mechanisms (e.g., immune response or other homeostatic mechanisms). It is concluded that the KEDRF provides a useful structure for systematically evaluating the complex array of host and pathogen factors that influence the dose-response relationship. In particular, the KEDRF supports efforts to specify and quantify the sources of variability, a prerequisite to strengthening the scientific basis for food safety decision making.

Identification of novel Listeria monocytogenes secreted virulence factors following mutational activation of the central virulence regulator, PrfA

Upon bacterial entry into the cytosol of infected mammalian host cells, the central virulence regulator PrfA of Listeria monocytogenes becomes activated and induces the expression of numerous factors which contribute to bacterial pathogenesis. The mechanism or signal by which PrfA becomes activated during the course of infection has not yet been determined; however, several amino acid substitutions within PrfA (known as PrfA* mutations) that appear to lock the protein into a constitutively activated state have been identified. In this study, the PrfA activation statuses of several L. monocytogenes mutant strains were subjected to direct isogenic comparison and the mutant with the highest activity, the prfA(L140F) mutant, was identified. The prfA(L140F) strain was subsequently used as a tool to identify gene products secreted as a result of PrfA activation. By use of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectroscopy analyses, 15 proteins were identified as up-regulated in the prfA(L140F) secretome, while the secretion of two proteins was found to be reduced. Although some of the proteins identified were known to be subject to direct regulation by PrfA, the majority have not previously been associated with PrfA regulation and their expression or secretion may be influenced indirectly by a PrfA-dependent regulatory pathway. Plasmid insertion inactivation of the genes encoding four novel secreted products indicated that three of the four have significant roles in L. monocytogenes virulence. The use of mutationally activated prfA alleles therefore provides a useful approach towards identifying gene products that contribute to L. monocytogenes pathogenesis.

From hot dogs to host cells: how the bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes regulates virulence gene expression

Environmental pathogens are organisms that normally spend a substantial part of their lifecycle outside of human hosts, but when introduced into humans are capable of causing disease. Such organisms are often able to transition between disparate environments ranging from the soil to the cytosol of host cells. The food-borne bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes serves as a model system for understanding how an environmental organism makes the transition into mammalian hosts. A transcriptional regulatory protein known as PrfA appears to serve as a critical switch, enabling L. monocytogenes to transition from the outside environment to life within the host cell cytosol. PrfA is required for the expression of many L. monocytogenes gene products associated with virulence, and multiple mechanisms serve to regulate the expression and activity of PrfA. Increasing evidence suggests that specific environmental stresses help prime L. monocytogenes for life within the host, and cross-talk between the stress response regulator sigma-B and PrfA may mediate the transition from outside environment to cytosol. Once within the host cytosol, multiple changes in bacterial metabolism and gene expression help to complete the transformation of L. monocytogenes from soil dweller to intracellular pathogen.

Internalins: a complex family of leucine-rich repeat-containing proteins in Listeria monocytogenes

The Listeria monocytogenes genome includes a large family of proteins harbouring leucine-rich repeats known as internalins (Inl). The generation of novel mutants and comparative analysis of Inl variability among Listeria and other bacterial genomes suggest that beyond the extensively-studied invasins, InlA and InlB, additional internalins also play important functions in the infectious process.

Invasiveness is a variable and heterogeneous phenotype in Listeria monocytogenes serotype strains

The ability of Listeria monocytogenes to breach mucosal and endothelial barriers of the host during infection is a hallmark property mediated by the internalins (Inl) A and B. We examined the invasive property of several L. monocytogenes strains representing 13 serotypes. We found that invasiveness is a heterogeneous phenotype amongst L. monocytogenes serotype strains. Despite this, many of the poorly invasive and non-invasive strains of L. monocytogenes express internalins at levels comparable to those of invasive isolates. Introduction of the inlAB locus from EGD-e into several poorly invasive strains had no effect on their invasive properties. A strain from serotype 4b that exhibits highly invasive properties was further examined. Deletion of the inlAB locus abrogated invasion of this strain while reintroduction of the inlAB locus into this strain restored invasiveness. An analysis of regions flanking the inlAB locus revealed considerable differences in the strains studied. Our results suggest that efficacious entry of L. monocytogenes into eukaryotic cells is complex and requires additional factors apart from internalins. Data presented here also suggest that the inlAB locus was introduced into L. monocytogenes by horizontal gene transfer with subsequent deletion and rearrangements occurring during evolution of this species.

Identification of the insulin-like growth factor II receptor as a novel receptor for binding and invasion by Listeria monocytogenes

The gram-positive bacterium Listeria monocytogenes causes a life-threatening disease known as listeriosis. The mechanism by which L. monocytogenes invades mammalian cells is not fully understood, but the processes involved may provide targets to prevent and treat listeriosis. Here, for the first time, we have identified the insulin-like growth factor II receptor (IGFIIR; also known as the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor (CI)M6PR or CD222) as a novel receptor for binding and invasion of Listeria species. Random peptide phage display was employed to select a peptide sequence by panning with immobilized L. monocytogenes cells; this peptide sequence corresponds to a sequence within the mannose 6-phosphate binding site of the IGFIIR. All Listeria spp. specifically bound the labeled peptide but not a control peptide, which was demonstrated using fluorescence spectrophotometry and fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Further evidence for binding of the receptor by L. monocytogenes and L. innocua was provided by affinity purification of the bovine IGFIIR from fetal calf serum by use of magnetic beads coated with cell preparations of Listeria spp. as affinity matrices. Adherence to and invasion of mammalian cells by L. monocytogenes was significantly inhibited by both the synthetic peptide and mannose 6-phosphate but not by appropriate controls. These observations indicate a role for the IGFIIR in the adherence and invasion of L. monocytogenes of mammalian cells, perhaps in combination with known mechanisms. Ligation of IGFIIR by L. monocytogenes may be a novel mechanism that contributes to the regulation of infectivity, possibly in combination with other mechanisms.

Simultaneous deficiency of both MurA and p60 proteins generates a rough phenotype in Listeria monocytogenes

We examined eight spontaneously occurring rough mutants of Listeria monocytogenes for their ability to express two previously reported autolysins, p60 and MurA. All mutants lack MurA expression and show strongly reduced levels of extracellular p60. One rough strain harbors a variant of the p60 protein with a partially truncated catalytic domain. In seven cases there were shifts in the localization of p60 to the membrane fraction. Mutations within the secA2 gene, encoding an auxiliary protein secretion system paralog, were previously shown to be involved in the smooth-rough phenotypic variation seen with Listeria strains. An isogenic DeltasecA2 EGDe deletion strain displays a strong pleiotropic reduction of p60 and MurA, in addition to a large number of secreted and surface proteins. However, we observed no apparent SecA2 dysfunction in several of the investigated strains as determined by direct sequencing of the secA2 gene and complementation of the DeltasecA2 mutant with the respective allele cloned from the rough mutant. To determine the gene products required for the smooth-rough transition, we created mutants lacking the individual iap and murA genes as well as a Deltaiap DeltamurA double mutant. The double mutant displays a rough phenotype and exhibits many of the properties seen with the DeltasecA2 mutant. Our results implicate p60 and MurA as important determinants in controlling the cell shape of L. monocytogenes. We also identified homologous MurA and SecA2 proteins in other Listeria species. The muramidase in two species, L. innocua and L. welshimeri, shows activity similar to that of the MurA protein in L. monocytogenes.

LPXTG protein InlJ, a newly identified internalin involved in Listeria monocytogenes virulence

Listeria monocytogenes expresses surface proteins covalently anchored to the peptidoglycan by sortase enzymes. Inactivation of srtA attenuates Listeria virulence in mice (H. Bierne, S. K. Mazmanian, M. Trost, M. G. Pucciarelli, G. Liu, P. Dehoux, L. Jansch, F. Garcia-del Portillo, O. Schneewind, and P. Cossart, Mol. Microbiol. 43:869-881, 2002). We show here that an srtA mutant is more attenuated than an internalin mutant in orally infected guinea pigs and transgenic mice expressing human E-cadherin (hEcad mice), indicating the involvement of other SrtA substrates, LPXTG proteins, in food-borne listeriosis. Data recently generated with a listerial DNA macroarray identified two LPXTG protein-encoding genes present in the genomes of L. monocytogenes strains and absent from all other Listeria species, inlI (lmo0333) and inlJ (lmo2821). They also revealed two other LPXTG protein-encoding genes, ORF29 and ORF2568, present only in a subclass of L. monocytogenes serovars, including the epidemic serovar 4b. We report here that an inlJ deletion mutant, in contrast to inlI and ORF29 mutants, is significantly attenuated in virulence after intravenous infection of mice or oral inoculation of hEcad mice. Interestingly, a DeltaORF2568 strain showed a slight increase in virulence. inlJ encodes a leucine-rich repeat (LRR) protein that is structurally related to the listerial invasion factor internalin. However, the consensus sequence of the InlJ LRR defines a novel subfamily of cysteine-containing LRRs in bacteria. In conclusion, this postgenomic approach identified InlJ as a new virulence factor among the proteins belonging to the internalin family in L. monocytogenes.

Methods for the isolation and identification of Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes: a review

Listeria monocytogenes is an important food-borne pathogen and is widely tested for in food, environmental and clinical samples. Identification traditionally involved culture methods based on selective enrichment and plating followed by the characterization of Listeria spp. based on colony morphology, sugar fermentation and haemolytic properties. These methods are the gold standard; but they are lengthy and may not be suitable for testing of foods with short shelf lives. As a result more rapid tests were developed based on antibodies (ELISA) or molecular techniques (PCR or DNA hybridization). While these tests possess equal sensitivity, they are rapid and allow testing to be completed within 48 h. More recently, molecular methods were developed that target RNA rather than DNA, such as RT-PCR, real time PCR or nucleic acid based sequence amplification (NASBA). These tests not only provide a measure of cell viability but they can also be used for quantitative analysis. In addition, a variety of tests are available for sub-species characterization, which are particularly useful in epidemiological investigations. Early typing methods differentiated isolates based on phenotypic markers, such as multilocus enzyme electrophoresis, phage typing and serotyping. These phenotypic typing methods are being replaced by molecular tests, which reflect genetic relationships between isolates and are more accurate. These new methods are currently mainly used in research but their considerable potential for routine testing in the future cannot be overlooked.

Molecular Determinants ofListeria monocytogenesVirulence

Listeria monocytogenes is the etiological agent of listeriosis, a severe human foodborne infection characterized by gastroenteritis, meningitis, encephalitis, abortions, and perinatal infections. This gram-positive bacterium is a facultative intracellular pathogen that induces its own uptake into nonphagocytic cells and spreads from cell to cell using an actin-based motility process. This review covers both well-established and recent advances in the characterization of L. monocytogenes virulence determinants and their role in the pathophysiology of listeriosis.

Pathogenicity islands in bacterial pathogenesis

In this review, we focus on a group of mobile genetic elements designated pathogenicity islands (PAI). These elements play a pivotal role in the virulence of bacterial pathogens of humans and are also essential for virulence in pathogens of animals and plants. Characteristic molecular features of PAI of important human pathogens and their role in pathogenesis are described. The availability of a large number of genome sequences of pathogenic bacteria and their benign relatives currently offers a unique opportunity for the identification of novel pathogen-specific genomic islands. However, this knowledge has to be complemented by improved model systems for the analysis of virulence functions of bacterial pathogens. PAI apparently have been acquired during the speciation of pathogens from their nonpathogenic or environmental ancestors. The acquisition of PAI not only is an ancient evolutionary event that led to the appearance of bacterial pathogens on a timescale of millions of years but also may represent a mechanism that contributes to the appearance of new pathogens within a human life span. The acquisition of knowledge about PAI, their structure, their mobility, and the pathogenicity factors they encode not only is helpful in gaining a better understanding of bacterial evolution and interactions of pathogens with eukaryotic host cells but also may have important practical implications such as providing delivery systems for vaccination, tools for cell biology, and tools for the development of new strategies for therapy of bacterial infections.

Identification and characterization of a peptidoglycan hydrolase, MurA, of Listeria monocytogenes, a muramidase needed for cell separation

A novel cell wall hydrolase encoded by the murA gene of Listeria monocytogenes is reported here. Mature MurA is a 66-kDa cell surface protein that is recognized by the well-characterized L. monocytogenes-specific monoclonal antibody EM-7G1. MurA displays two characteristic features: (i) an N-terminal domain with homology to muramidases from several gram-positive bacterial species and (ii) four copies of a cell wall-anchoring LysM repeat motif present within its C-terminal domain. Purified recombinant MurA produced in Escherichia coli was confirmed to be an authentic cell wall hydrolase with lytic properties toward cell wall preparations of Micrococcus lysodeikticus. An isogenic mutant with a deletion of murA that lacked the 66-kDa cell wall hydrolase grew as long chains during exponential growth. Complementation of the mutant strain by chromosomal reintegration of the wild-type gene restored expression of this murein hydrolase activity and cell separation levels to those of the wild-type strain. Studies reported herein suggest that the MurA protein is involved in generalized autolysis of L. monocytogenes.

Surface proteins and the pathogenic potential of Listeria monocytogenes

On the basis of the recently determined genome sequence of Listeria monocytogenes, we performed a global analysis of the surface-protein-encoding genes. Only proteins displaying a signal peptide were taken into account. Forty-one genes encoding LPXTG proteins, including the previously known internalin gene family, were detected. Several genes encoding proteins that, like InlB and Ami, possess GW modules that attach them to lipoteichoic acids were also identified. Additionally, the completed genome sequence revealed genes encoding proteins potentially anchored in the cell membrane by a hydrophobic tail as well as genes encoding P60-like proteins and lipoproteins. We describe these families and discuss their putative implications for host-pathogen interactions.

A role for ActA in epithelial cell invasion by Listeria monocytogenes

We assessed the role of the actin-polymerizing protein, ActA, in host cell invasion by Listeria monocytogenes. An in frame DeltaactA mutant was constructed in a hyperinvasive strain of prfA* genotype, in which all genes of the PrfA-dependent virulence regulon, including actA, are highly expressed in vitro. Loss of ActA production in prfA* bacteria reduced entry into Caco-2, HeLa, MDCK and Vero epithelial cells to basal levels. Reintroduction of actA into the DeltaactA prfA* mutant fully restored invasiveness, demonstrating that ActA is involved in epithelial cell invasion. ActA did not contribute to internalization by COS-1 fibroblasts and Hepa 1-6 hepatocytes. Expression of actA in Listeria innocua was sufficient to promote entry of this non-invasive species into epithelial cell lines, but not into COS-1 and Hepa 1-6 cells, indicating that ActA directs an internalization pathway specific for epithelial cells. Scanning electron microscopy of infected Caco-2 human enterocytes suggested that this pathway involves microvilli. prfA* bacteria, but not wild-type bacteria (which express PrfA-dependent genes very weakly in vitro) or prfA* DeltaactA bacteria, efficiently invaded differentiated Caco-2 cells via their apical surface. Microvilli played an active role in the phagocytosis of the prfA* strain, and actA was required for their remodelling into pseudopods mediating bacterial uptake. Thus, ActA appears to be a multifunctional virulence factor involved in two important aspects of Listeria pathogenesis: actin-based motility and host cell tropism and invasion.

Identification of Listeria monocytogenes in vivo-induced genes by fluorescence-activated cell sorting

Listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive, intracellular, food-borne pathogen capable of causing severe infections in immunocompromised or pregnant individuals, as well as numerous animal species. Genetic analysis of Listeria pathogenesis has identified several genes which are crucial for virulence. The transcription of most of these genes has been shown to be induced upon entry of Listeria into the host cell. To identify additional genes that are induced in vivo and may be required for L. monocytogenes pathogenesis, a fluorescence-activated cell-sorting technique was initiated. Random fragments of the L. monocytogenes chromosome were cloned into a plasmid carrying a promoterless green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene, and the plasmids were transformed into the L. monocytogenes actA mutant DP-L1942. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) was used to isolate L. monocytogenes clones that exhibited increased GFP expression within macrophage-like J774 cells but had relatively low levels of GFP expression when the bacteria were extracellular. Using this strategy, several genes were identified, including actA, that exhibited such an expression profile. In-frame deletions of two of these genes, one encoding the putative L. monocytogenes uracil DNA glycosylase (ung) and one encoding a protein with homology to the Bacillus subtilis YhdP hemolysin-like protein, were constructed and introduced into the chromosome of wild-type L. monocytogenes 10403s. The L. monocytogenes 10403s ung deletion mutant was not attenuated for virulence in mice, while the yhdP mutant exhibited a three- to sevenfold reduction in virulence.

Listeria pathogenesis and molecular virulence determinants

The gram-positive bacterium Listeria monocytogenes is the causative agent of listeriosis, a highly fatal opportunistic foodborne infection. Pregnant women, neonates, the elderly, and debilitated or immunocompromised patients in general are predominantly affected, although the disease can also develop in normal individuals. Clinical manifestations of invasive listeriosis are usually severe and include abortion, sepsis, and meningoencephalitis. Listeriosis can also manifest as a febrile gastroenteritis syndrome. In addition to humans, L. monocytogenes affects many vertebrate species, including birds. Listeria ivanovii, a second pathogenic species of the genus, is specific for ruminants. Our current view of the pathophysiology of listeriosis derives largely from studies with the mouse infection model. Pathogenic listeriae enter the host primarily through the intestine. The liver is thought to be their first target organ after intestinal translocation. In the liver, listeriae actively multiply until the infection is controlled by a cell-mediated immune response. This initial, subclinical step of listeriosis is thought to be common due to the frequent presence of pathogenic L. monocytogenes in food. In normal individuals, the continual exposure to listerial antigens probably contributes to the maintenance of anti-Listeria memory T cells. However, in debilitated and immunocompromised patients, the unrestricted proliferation of listeriae in the liver may result in prolonged low-level bacteremia, leading to invasion of the preferred secondary target organs (the brain and the gravid uterus) and to overt clinical disease. L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii are facultative intracellular parasites able to survive in macrophages and to invade a variety of normally nonphagocytic cells, such as epithelial cells, hepatocytes, and endothelial cells. In all these cell types, pathogenic listeriae go through an intracellular life cycle involving early escape from the phagocytic vacuole, rapid intracytoplasmic multiplication, bacterially induced actin-based motility, and direct spread to neighboring cells, in which they reinitiate the cycle. In this way, listeriae disseminate in host tissues sheltered from the humoral arm of the immune system. Over the last 15 years, a number of virulence factors involved in key steps of this intracellular life cycle have been identified. This review describes in detail the molecular determinants of Listeria virulence and their mechanism of action and summarizes the current knowledge on the pathophysiology of listeriosis and the cell biology and host cell responses to Listeria infection. This article provides an updated perspective of the development of our understanding of Listeria pathogenesis from the first molecular genetic analyses of virulence mechanisms reported in 1985 until the start of the genomic era of Listeria research.

Pathogenicity islands and virulence evolution in Listeria

As in other bacterial pathogens, the virulence determinants of Listeria species are clustered in genomic islands scattered along the chromosome. This review summarizes current knowledge about the structure, distribution and role in pathogenesis of Listeria virulence loci. Hypotheses about the mode of acquisition and evolution of these loci in this group of Gram-positive bacteria are presented and discussed.

An integron cassette carrying dfr1 with 90-bp repeat sequences located on the chromosome of trimethoprim-resistant isolates of Campylobacter jejuni

The frequent occurrence of high-level trimethoprim resistance in clinical isolates of Campylobacter jejuni was shown to be related to the acquisition of foreign resistance genes (dfrl or dfr9 or both) coding for resistant variants of the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase, the target of trimethoprim. The dfr1 gene detected on the chromosome of 40 different clinical strains of C. jejuni was studied further regarding structure and genetic organization. Most of the dfr1 genes were found as integron cassettes inserted in the chromosome. In 36% of the examined isolated, the dfr1 gene showed identity to that previously characterized in trimethoprim-resistant Escherichia coli. In 40% of the cases, however, a variant of the dfr1 gene containing a 90-bp direct repeat was detected, and in 5% of the isolates, the repeat-containing dfr1 variant was found to occur in the form of two cassettes in tandem in an integron context. The existence of the 90-bp repeat within the coding sequence of the dfr1gene was found to play a role in the adaptation of C. jejuni to ambient concentrations of trimethoprim.

Human dendritic cells infected by Listeria monocytogenes: induction of maturation, requirements for phagolysosomal escape and antigen presentation capacity

An important feature of microbial infections is the ability of the microorganisms to interfere with and modulate the induction of host immune reactions. However, little is known about the effects of broad host range pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes on similar cell types in different hosts. Here we examine the effects of the human and animal pathogen L. monocytogenes on human dendritic cells (DC) since this type of cells is essential for the initiation of immune responses. Listeria are phagocytosed efficiently by immature human DC and the bacteria escape from the phagolysosome quickly. Lack of the pore-forming activity of listeriolysin, which was found to be essential for the vacuolar escape of this bacterium in other cell types, retarded but did not prevent egress from the vacuole. Treatment of cultures of immature DC with L. monocytogenes resulted in rapid changes in morphology and cellular constitution followed by maturation of the DC. This could be judged by the appearance of maturation-specific cell surface markers. Antigen presentation to CD4 T cells was apparently not impaired by the infection. These results are in clear contrast to results obtained previously in the mouse system (Guzman et al., Mol. Microbiol. 1996. 20: 119 - 126; Darji et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 1997. 27: 1696 - 1703.).

A framework for interpreting the leucine-rich repeats of the Listeria internalins

The surface protein InlB of the bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes is required for inducing phagocytosis in various nonphagocytic mammalian cell types in vitro. InlB causes tyrosine phosphorylation of host cell adaptor proteins, activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, and rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton. These events lead to phagocytic uptake of the bacterium by the host cell. InlB belongs to the internalin family of Listeria proteins, which also includes InlA, another surface protein involved in host cell invasion. The internalins are the largest class of bacterial proteins containing leucine-rich repeats (LRR), a motif associated with protein-protein interactions. The LRR motif is found in a functionally diverse array of proteins, including those involved in the plant immune system and in the mammalian innate immune response. Structural and functional interpretations of the sequences of internalin family members are presented in light of the recently determined x-ray crystal structure of the InlB LRR domain.

Interactions between Listeria monocytogenes and host mammalian cells

Bacterial pathogens have developed a variety of strategies to induce their own internalization into mammalian cells which are normally nonphagocytic. The Gram-positive bacterium Listeria monocytogenes enters into many cultured cell types using two bacterial surface proteins, InlA (internalin) and InlB. In both cases, entry takes place after engagement of a receptor and induction of a series of signaling events.

Structure of the lnlB leucine-rich repeats, a domain that triggers host cell invasion by the bacterial pathogen L. monocytogenes

The L. monocytogenes protein lnlB activates phosphoinositide 3-kinase and induces phagocytosis in several mammalian cell types. The 1.86 A resolution X-ray crystal structure of the leucine-rich repeat domain of lnlB that is both necessary and sufficient to induce phagocytosis is presented here. The structure supports a crucial role for calcium in host cell invasion by L. monocytogenes and supplies a rationale for its function. Calciums are bound to the protein in an unusually exposed manner that suggests that the metals may act as a bridge between lnlB and mammalian cell surface receptors. The structure also identifies surfaces on the curved and elongated molecule that may constitute additional interaction sites in forming a bacterial-mammalian signaling complex.

The smcL gene of Listeria ivanovii encodes a sphingomyelinase C that mediates bacterial escape from the phagocytic vacuole

The ruminant pathogen Listeria ivanovii differs from Listeria monocytogenes in that it causes strong, bizonal haemolysis and a characteristic shovel-shaped co-operative haemolytic ('CAMP-like') reaction with Rhodococcus equi. We cloned the gene responsible for the differential haemolytic properties of L. ivanovii, smcL. It encodes a sphingomyelinase C (SMase) highly similar (> 50% identity) to the SMases from Staphylococcus aureus (beta-toxin), Bacillus cereus and Leptospira interrogans. smcL was transcribed monocistronically and was expressed independently of PrfA. Low-stringency Southern blots demonstrated that, within the genus Listeria, smcL was present only in L. ivanovii. We constructed an smcL knock-out mutant. Its phenotype on blood agar was identical to that of L. monocytogenes (i.e. weak haemolysis and no shovel-shaped CAMP-like reaction with R. equi ). This mutant was less virulent for mice, and its intracellular proliferation was impaired in the bovine epithelial-like cell line MDBK. The role of SmcL in intracellular survival was investigated using an L. monocytogenes mutant lacking the membrane-damaging determinants hly, plcA and plcB, being thus unable to grow intracellularly. Complementation of this mutant with smcL on a plasmid was sufficient to promote bacterial intracellular proliferation in MDBK cells. Transmission electron microscopy showed that SmcL mediates the disruption of the phagocytic vacuole and the release of bacteria into the cytosol. Therefore, L. ivanovii possesses a third phospholipase with membrane-damaging activity that, together with PlcA and PlcB, may act in concert with the pore-forming toxin Hly to mediate efficient escape from the vacuolar compartment. The 5' end of smcL is contiguous with the internalin locus i-inlFE, which is also specific to L. ivanovii and is required for full virulence in mice. Thus, smcL forms part of a novel virulence gene cluster in Listeria that is species specific.

Physical and genetic map of the Listeria monocytogenes EGD serotype 1/2a chromosome

Listeria monocytogenes is a facultative intracellular pathogen responsible for both invasive and non-invasive food-borne illness in animals and humans. In this study, macrorestriction analysis following pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was used to show that Listeria monocytogenes serovar 1/2a strain EGD has a single chromosome containing eight NotI fragments of 1100, 850, 365, 320, 275, 40, 30 and 20 kb in size and 11 AscI fragments of 860, 470, 410, 360, 320, 250, 110, 80, 50, 30 and 20 kb. The total genome therefore comprises 3000 +/- 50 kb. The creation of a physical and genetic map of the Listeria genome was achieved by generating NotI linking clones and their use in subsequent hybridisation analysis. Using isogenic mutants harbouring additional artificial NotI restriction sites, we were able to precisely map the positions of all currently known virulence genes on the chromosome.

Surface proteins of gram-positive bacteria and mechanisms of their targeting to the cell wall envelope

The cell wall envelope of gram-positive bacteria is a macromolecular, exoskeletal organelle that is assembled and turned over at designated sites. The cell wall also functions as a surface organelle that allows gram-positive pathogens to interact with their environment, in particular the tissues of the infected host. All of these functions require that surface proteins and enzymes be properly targeted to the cell wall envelope. Two basic mechanisms, cell wall sorting and targeting, have been identified. Cell well sorting is the covalent attachment of surface proteins to the peptidoglycan via a C-terminal sorting signal that contains a consensus LPXTG sequence. More than 100 proteins that possess cell wall-sorting signals, including the M proteins of Streptococcus pyogenes, protein A of Staphylococcus aureus, and several internalins of Listeria monocytogenes, have been identified. Cell wall targeting involves the noncovalent attachment of proteins to the cell surface via specialized binding domains. Several of these wall-binding domains appear to interact with secondary wall polymers that are associated with the peptidoglycan, for example teichoic acids and polysaccharides. Proteins that are targeted to the cell surface include muralytic enzymes such as autolysins, lysostaphin, and phage lytic enzymes. Other examples for targeted proteins are the surface S-layer proteins of bacilli and clostridia, as well as virulence factors required for the pathogenesis of L. monocytogenes (internalin B) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (PspA) infections. In this review we describe the mechanisms for both sorting and targeting of proteins to the envelope of gram-positive bacteria and review the functions of known surface proteins.

Phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C from Listeria monocytogenes is an important virulence factor in murine cerebral listeriosis

Meningoencephalitis is a serious and often fatal complication of Listeria monocytogenes infection. The aim of the present study was to analyze the role of internalin A (InlA) and B, which are involved in the invasion of L. monocytogenes into cultivated host tissue cells, and that of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PlcB), which mainly promotes the direct cell-to-cell spread of L. monocytogenes, in murine cerebral listeriosis by use of an InlA/B (DeltainlAB2)- and a PlcB (DeltaplcB2)-deficient isogenic deletion mutant strain and the wild-type (WT) L. monocytogenes EGD. Listeria strains were directly applied to the brain, a technique which has been employed previously to study the pathogenesis of cerebral listeriosis (D. Schlüter, S. B. Oprisiu, S. Chahoud, D. Weiner, O. D. Wiestler, H. Hof, and M. Deckert-Schlüter, Eur. J. Immunol. 25:2384-2391, 1995). We demonstrated that PlcB, but not InlA or InlB, is an important virulence factor in cerebral listeriosis. Nonimmunized mice infected intracerebrally with the DeltaplcB2 strain survived significantly longer and had a reduced intracerebral bacterial load compared to mice infected with the DeltainlAB2 strain or WT bacteria. In addition, immunization with the WT prior to intracerebral infection significantly increased the survival rate of mice challenged intracerebrally with the DeltaplcB2 strain compared to that of mice infected with the WT or DeltainlAB2 strain. Histopathology revealed that the major difference between the various experimental groups was a significantly delayed intracerebral spread of the DeltaplcB2 mutant strain, indicating that cell-to-cell spread is an important pathogenic feature of cerebral listeriosis. Interestingly, irrespective of the Listeria mutant used, the apoptosis of hippocampal and cerebellar neurons and an internal hydrocephalus developed in surviving mice, indicating that these complications are not dependent on the virulence factors InlA/B and PlcB. In conclusion, this study points to PlcB as a virulence factor important for the intracerebral pathogenesis of murine L. monocytogenes meningoencephalitis.

Interaction of Listeria monocytogenes with human brain microvascular endothelial cells: InlB-dependent invasion, long-term intracellular growth, and spread from macrophages to endothelial cells

Invasion of endothelial tissues may be crucial in a Listeria monocytogenes infection leading to meningitis and/or encephalitis. Internalization of L. monocytogenes into endothelial cells has been previously demonstrated by using human umbilical vein endothelial cells as a model system. However, during the crossing of the blood-brain barrier, L. monocytogenes most likely encounters brain microvascular endothelial cells which are strikingly different from macrovascular or umbilical vein endothelial cells. In the present study human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) were used to study the interaction of L. monocytogenes with endothelial cells, which closely resemble native microvascular endothelial cells of the brain. We show that L. monocytogenes invades HBMEC in an InlB-dependent and wortmannin-insensitive manner. Once within the HBMEC, L. monocytogenes replicates efficiently over a period of at least 18 h, moves intracellularly by inducing actin tail formation, and spreads from cell to cell. Using a green fluorescent protein-expressing L. monocytogenes strain, we present direct evidence that HBMEC are highly resistant to damage by intracellularly growing L. monocytogenes. Infection of HBMEC with L. monocytogenes results in foci of heavily infected, but largely undamaged endothelial cells. Heterologous plaque assays with L. monocytogenes-infected P388D1 macrophages as vectors demonstrate efficient spreading of L. monocytogenes into HBMEC, fibroblasts, hepatocytes, and epithelial cells, and this phenomenon is independent of the inlC gene product.

Filament tip-associated antigens involved in adherence to and invasion of murine pulmonary epithelial cells in vivo and HeLa cells in vitro by Nocardia asteroides

The interactions of Nocardia asteroides GUH-2 with pulmonary epithelial cells of C57BL/6 mice and with HeLa cells were studied. Electron microscopy demonstrated that only the tips of log-phase cells penetrated pulmonary epithelial cells following intranasal administration, and nocardiae were recovered from the brain. Coccobacillary cells neither invaded nor disseminated. Serum from immunized mice (IMS) decreased attachment to and penetration of pulmonary epithelial cell surfaces by log-phase GUH-2 and inhibited spread to the brain. IMS was adsorbed against stationary-phase cells. Western immunoblots suggested that this adsorbed IMS was reactive primarily with 43- and 62-kDa proteins. Immunofluorescence showed that adsorbed IMS preferentially labeled the tips of log-phase GUH-2 cells. Since this IMS was reactive to culture filtrate antigens, several of these proteins were cut from gels, and mice were immunized. Sera against 62-, 55-, 43-, 36-, 31-, and 25-kDa antigens were obtained. The antisera against the 43- and 36-kDa proteins labeled the filament tips of GUH-2 cells. Only the antiserum against the 43-kDa antigen increased pulmonary clearance, inhibited apical attachment to and penetration of pulmonary epithelial cells, and prevented spread to the brain. An in vitro model with HeLa cells demonstrated that the tips of log-phase cells of GUH-2 adhered to and penetrated the surface of HeLa cells. Invasion assays with amikacin treatment demonstrated that nocardiae were internalized. Adsorbed IMS blocked attachment to and invasion of these cells. These data suggested that a filament tip-associated 43-kDa protein was involved in attachment to and invasion of pulmonary epithelial cells and HeLa cells by N. asteroides GUH-2.

A novel PrfA-regulated chromosomal locus, which is specific for Listeria ivanovii, encodes two small, secreted internalins and contributes to virulence in mice

Several large, cell wall-associated internalins and one small, secreted internalin (InlC) have been described previously in Listeria monocytogenes. Using degenerate primers derived from sequenced peptides of an L. ivanovii major secreted protein, we identified a new 4.25 kb internalin locus of L. ivanovii, termed i-inlFE. The two proteins encoded by this locus, i-InlE and i-InlF, belong to the group of small, secreted internalins. Southern blot analyses show that the i-inlFE locus does not occur in L. monocytogenes. These data also indicate that six genes encoding small, secreted internalins are present in L. ivanovii, in contrast to L. monocytogenes, in which inlC encodes the only small internalin. The mature i-InlE protein (198 amino acids) is secreted in large amounts into the brain-heart infusion (BHI) culture medium in the stationary growth phase. In minimum essential medium (MEM), which has been used previously to induce PrfA-dependent gene transcription, i-inlE mRNA and i-InlE protein are expressed at high levels. As shown by Northern blot analysis and primer extension, transcription of the tandemly arranged i-inlF and i-inlE genes is dependent on the virulence regulator PrfA, and characteristic palindromic sequences ('PrfA-boxes') were identified in the promoter regions of i-inlF and i-inlE. Non-polar i-inlE and i-inlF deletion mutants and an i-inlFE double deletion mutant were constructed and tested in the mouse infection model. After intravenous infection, all three mutants entirely failed to kill C57BL/6 mice even at high infectious doses of 109 bacteria per mouse, whereas the LD50 for the parental strain was determined as 4 x 107 bacteria per mouse. These data suggest an important role for i-InlE and i-InlF in L. ivanovii virulence.

Listeria monocytogenes stimulates mucus exocytosis in cultured human polarized mucosecreting intestinal cells through action of listeriolysin O

When the intracellular pathogen Listeria monocytogenes infects cultured human mucosecreting polarized HT29-MTX cells apically, it induces the stimulation of mucus exocytosis without cell entry. Using a set of isogenic mutants and purified listeriolysin O (LLO), we identified the L. monocytogenes thiol-activated exotoxin LLO as the agonist of mucus secretion. We demonstrated that the LLO-induced mucus exocytosis did not result from the LLO membrane-damaging activity. We found that LLO-induced mucus exocytosis is an event requiring the binding of LLO to a brush border-associated receptor and membrane oligomerization of the exotoxin. By a pharmacological approach, we demonstrated that no regulatory system or intracellular transducing signal known to be involved in control of mucin exocytosis was activated by LLO. Based on the present data, the stimulatory action of LLO on mucin exocytosis could be accounted for either by an unknown signaling system which remains to be determined or by direct action of LLO with the membrane vesicle components involved in the intracellular vesicular transport of mucins.

Interactions of Listeria monocytogenes with mammalian cells during entry and actin-based movement: bacterial factors, cellular ligands and signaling

Although <50 kb of its 3.3 megabase genome is known, Listeria monocytogenes has received much attention and an impressive amount of data has contributed in raising this bacterium among the best understood intracellular pathogens. The mechanisms that Listeria uses to enter cells, escape from the phagocytic vacuole and spread from one cell to another using an actin-based motility process have been analysed in detail. Several bacterial proteins contributing to these events have been identified, including the invasion proteins internalin A (InlA) and B (InlB), the secreted pore-forming toxin listeriolysin O (LLO) which promotes the escape from the phagocytic vacuole, and the surface protein ActA which is required for actin polymerization and bacterial movement. While LLO and ActA are critical for the infectious process and are not redundant with other listerial proteins, the precise role of InlA and InlB in vivo remains unclear. How InlA, InlB, LLO or ActA interact with the mammalian cells is beginning to be deciphered. The picture that emerges is that this bacterium uses general strategies also used by other invasive bacteria but has evolved a panel of specific tools and tricks to exploit mammalian cell functions. Their study may lead to a better understanding of important questions in cell biology such as ligand receptor signalling and dynamics of actin polymerization in mammalian cells.

Purification of the inlB gene product of Listeria monocytogenes and demonstration of its biological activity

Entry of Listeria monocytogenes into nonphagocytic cells requires the inlAB gene products. InlA and InlB are bacterial cell wall-associated polypeptides that can be released by sodium dodecyl sulfate treatment. By applying more gentle extraction methods, we have purified InlB in its native form. Treatment of bacteria with various nondenaturating agents including mutanolysin, thiol reagents, sodium chloride, and detergents like Triton X-100 or 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate did not release substantial amounts of InlB from the bacterial cell wall. Instead, InlB was nearly quantitatively extracted in a solubilized form by treatment of bacteria with 1 M Tris-Cl or other protonated amines at pH 7.5. However, the reduced solubility of the extracted InlB in low-salt buffers hampered further biochemical purification. A panel of monoclonal antibodies against listerial Tris-Cl extracts containing InlB was therefore produced to generate reagents for use in affinity chromatography. One of the monoclonal antibodies enabled purification of the InlB protein to homogeneity with relatively high yields. When added externally, purified InlB associated with the surface of noninvasive bacteria such as Listeria innocua or an L. monocytogenes inlB2 mutant, where it promoted entry of these strains into Vero cells >300- and 17-fold, respectively. This effect was even more dramatic for HeLa cells, where the observed invasion was increased about 9,000- and 4,000-fold, respectively. The availability of purified native, invasion-competent InlB will allow analysis of the molecular basis of InlB-mediated entry into tissue culture cell lines in greater detail.

Short-sequence DNA repeats in prokaryotic genomes

Short-sequence DNA repeat (SSR) loci can be identified in all eukaryotic and many prokaryotic genomes. These loci harbor short or long stretches of repeated nucleotide sequence motifs. DNA sequence motifs in a single locus can be identical and/or heterogeneous. SSRs are encountered in many different branches of the prokaryote kingdom. They are found in genes encoding products as diverse as microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules and specific bacterial virulence factors such as lipopolysaccharide-modifying enzymes or adhesins. SSRs enable genetic and consequently phenotypic flexibility. SSRs function at various levels of gene expression regulation. Variations in the number of repeat units per locus or changes in the nature of the individual repeat sequences may result from recombination processes or polymerase inadequacy such as slipped-strand mispairing (SSM), either alone or in combination with DNA repair deficiencies. These rather complex phenomena can occur with relative ease, with SSM approaching a frequency of 10(-4) per bacterial cell division and allowing high-frequency genetic switching. Bacteria use this random strategy to adapt their genetic repertoire in response to selective environmental pressure. SSR-mediated variation has important implications for bacterial pathogenesis and evolutionary fitness. Molecular analysis of changes in SSRs allows epidemiological studies on the spread of pathogenic bacteria. The occurrence, evolution and function of SSRs, and the molecular methods used to analyze them are discussed in the context of responsiveness to environmental factors, bacterial pathogenicity, epidemiology, and the availability of full-genome sequences for increasing numbers of microorganisms, especially those that are medically relevant.

Internalin B is essential for adhesion and mediates the invasion of Listeria monocytogenes into human endothelial cells

Listeria monocytogenes causes rhombencephalitis in humans and animals and also affects the fetus in utero, causing disseminated sepsis. In both instances, the infection occurs by the crossing of endothelial cells lining a physiological barrier, the blood-brain barrier or the transplacental barrier. In this study, the ability of L. monocytogenes wild-type EGD to invade human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was evaluated using wild-type bacteria and isogenic Listeria mutants. Here, we show that invasion of HUVECs by L. monocytogenes is dependent on the expression of the internalin B gene product. This was demonstrated in several ways. First, L. monocytogenes strains lacking the inlB gene did not invade HUVECs. Secondly, avid invasion was obtained when a strain deleted for inlAB was complemented with a plasmid harbouring inlB only, whereas strains expressing inlA did not enter HUVECs. Thirdly, entry of wild-type EGD could be blocked effectively with antibodies to InlB. Fourthly, cell binding assays and flow cytometry with HUVECs showed binding of purified InlB, but not InlA, suggesting a tropism of InlB for this cell type. Finally, physical association of purified native InlB with the surface of non-invasive mutants dramatically increased their ability to invade HUVECs. In laser-scanning confocal microscopy, binding of InlB was observed as focal and localized patches on the cell surface of HUVECs. Qualitative examination of the entry process by scanning electron microscopy revealed that both wild-type EGD and a recombinant strain overexpressing only InlB enter HUVECs in a similar fashion. The entry process was polarized, involved single bacteria and occurred over the entire surface of endothelial cells.

Host-pathogen interactions during entry and actin-based movement of Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogenic bacterium that induces its own uptake into mammalian cells, and spreads from one cell to another by an actin-based motility process. Entry into host cells involves the bacterial surface proteins InlA (internalin) and InlB. The receptor for InlA is the cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin. InlB-mediated entry requires activation of the host protein phosphoinositide (PI) 3-kinase, probably in response to engagement of a receptor. Actin-based movement of L. monocytogenes is mediated by the bacterial surface protein ActA. The N-terminal region of this protein is necessary and sufficient for polymerization of host cell actin. Other host proteins involved in bacterial motility include profilin, Vasodilator-Stimulated Phosphoprotein (VASP), the Arp2/Arp3 complex, and cofilin. Studies of entry and intracellular movement of L. monocytogenes could lead to a better understanding of receptor-ligand signaling and dynamics of actin polymerization in mammalian cells.

Internalin B promotes the replication of Listeria monocytogenes in mouse hepatocytes

The uptake of Listeria monocytogenes by a variety of cell types in vitro is facilitated by the protein products of the inlAB (internalin) operon expressed by the organism. In the case of mouse hepatocytes, the extent to which inlAB expression influenced the uptake of Listeria in vitro was markedly dependent upon the ratio of bacteria to cells. At a ratio of 100:1, greater than 40-fold fewer transposon-induced inl4B mutant listeriae entered hepatocytes compared to the isogenic wild-type control; the difference was only fourfold, however, in cultures inoculated at a 1:1 ratio. Similarly, the uptake of in-frame inlB or inlAB deletion mutants differed only fourfold from the uptake of wild-type or inlA mutant Listeria at a 1:1 multiplicity of infection. Mutations affecting inlB or inlAB, on the other hand, resulted in a marked decrease in the capacity of Listeria to proliferate within mouse hepatocytes in vivo and in vitro. Electron micrographs of Listeria-infected hepatocytes demonstrated the impaired capacity of inlB mutants to escape from endocytic vacuoles and to enter the cytoplasm where proliferation occurs. These findings indicate that the protein product of inlB exerts a significant effect on the intracellular replication of Listeria.

The anthrax toxin activator gene atxA is associated with CO2-enhanced non-toxin gene expression in Bacillus anthracis

The Bacillus anthracis toxin genes, cya, lef, and pag, can be viewed as a regulon, in which transcription of all three genes is activated in trans by the same regulatory gene, atxA, in response to the same signal, CO2. In atxA+ strains, toxin gene expression is increased 5- to 20-fold in cells grown in 5% CO2 relative to cells grown in air. CO2-enhanced toxin gene transcription is not observed in atx4-null mutants. Here, we used two independent techniques to obtain evidence for additional CO2-induced atxA-regulated genes. First, total protein preparations from atxA4+ and atxA isolates grown in 5% CO2 and in air were examined by two-dimensional electrophoresis. Comparison of the resulting protein patterns indicated that synthesis of non-toxin proteins is influenced by growth in elevated CO2 and the toxin gene regulator, atxA. Second, we generated random transcriptional lacZ fusions in B. anthracis with transposon Tn917-LTV3. Transposon-insertion libraries were screened for mutants expressing CO2-enhanced atxA-dependent beta-galactosidase activity. DNA sequence analysis of transposon insertion sites in 17 mutants carrying CO2- and atxA-regulated fusions revealed 10 mutants carrying independent insertions on the 185-kb toxin plasmid pXO1 which did not map to the toxin genes. The tcr-lacZ fusion mutants (tcr for toxin coregulated) were Tox+, indicating that these genes may not be involved in anthrax toxin gene activation. Our data indicate a clear association of atxA with CO2-enhanced gene expression in B. anthracis and provide evidence that atxA regulates genes other than the structural genes for the anthrax toxin proteins.