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Category: Bacterial Pathogenesis
Listeria monocytogenes Infection of Mice: an Elegant Probe To Dissect Innate and T-Cell Immune Responses, Page 1 of 2
< Previous page | Next page > /docserver/preview/fulltext/10.1128/9781555816513/9781555813437_Chap50-1.gif /docserver/preview/fulltext/10.1128/9781555816513/9781555813437_Chap50-2.gifAbstract:
Although infection with the intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes can result in severe illnesses such as sepsis and meningitis in immunocompromised people, a much more common outcome is control and clearance of the organism without serious malady. L. monocytogenes is able to infect common laboratory animals such as the mouse, immunologists have been able to dissect this host-pathogen interplay and elucidate the immune functions required to contain and eliminate L. monocytogenes infection. Importantly, the mouse model of L. monocytogenes infection has yielded discoveries that are not only specific to this host-pathogen interaction but also help define fundamental concepts of innate and adaptive immunity. The natural route of L. monocytogenes infection in humans is via the gut after consumption of contaminated food products. However, infection of mice in this manner requires an extremely large inoculum and often results in asynchronous systemic infections, which complicate experimental design. Once taken up into a cell, L. monocytogenes is contained within a phagosome. Several components of the innate immune system are critical in controlling L. monocytogenes infection; however, they are not enough to accomplish clearance of virulent bacteria. T cells are required to achieve sterilizing immunity to L. monocytogenes. Gamma interferon (IFN-γ) is essential in orchestrating innate defenses against L. monocytogenes; however, its role in regulating T-cell homeostasis was not predicted. Both the innate and T-cell components of the mammalian immune system work in concert to rid the body of bacteria before the development of serious pathology.
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Relative susceptibility of specific mouse strains to virulent L. monocytogenes infection
a Intravenous infection with virulent L. monocytogenes.
Relative susceptibility of specific mouse strains to virulent L. monocytogenes infection
a Intravenous infection with virulent L. monocytogenes.