Atypical Hemolytic Listeria innocua Isolates Are Virulent, albeit Less than Listeria monocytogenes.
Infect Immun
; 87(4)2019 04.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30670551
ABSTRACT
Listeria innocua is considered a nonpathogenic Listeria species. Natural atypical hemolytic L. innocua isolates have been reported but have not been characterized in detail. Here, we report the genomic and functional characterization of representative isolates from the two known natural hemolytic L. innocua clades. Whole-genome sequencing confirmed the presence of Listeria pathogenicity islands (LIPI) characteristic of Listeria monocytogenes species. Functional assays showed that LIPI-1 and inlA genes are transcribed, and the corresponding gene products are expressed and functional. Using in vitro and in vivo assays, we show that atypical hemolytic L. innocua is virulent, can actively cross the intestinal epithelium, and spreads systemically to the liver and spleen, albeit to a lesser degree than the reference L. monocytogenes EGDe strain. Although human exposure to hemolytic L. innocua is likely rare, these findings are important for food safety and public health. The presence of virulence traits in some L. innocua clades supports the existence of a common virulent ancestor of L. monocytogenes and L. innocua.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Bird Diseases
/
Listeria
/
Listeriosis
/
Listeria monocytogenes
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Infect Immun
Year:
2019
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
France