MedWorm: Listeria

smcL as a novel diagnostic marker for quantitative detection of Listeria ivanovii in biological samples

Journal of Applied Microbiology — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: This method can be an adequate alternative for the identification of L. ivanovii and for complete diagnosis of animal and human listeriosis.Significance and Impact of the Study: We present an alternative for the detection of another pathogenic member of Listeria genus, which can help to distinguish from Listeria monocytogenes and therefore facilitates the establishment of preventive and prophylactic measures in food and farm environments. (Source: Journal of Applied Microbiology)

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Advaxis Research In ActA Shows Therapeutic Anti-Cancer Response

Drugs.com - Clinical Trials — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:40:33 +0100

New Adjuvant in Company's Growing Portfolio of Immunotherapeutics NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 18, 2010 - Advaxis, Inc., (OTCBB: ADXS), the live, attenuated Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) immunotherapy company, has published new... (Source: Drugs.com - Clinical Trials)

Effects of packaging type and storage temperature on the growth of foodborne pathogens on shredded 'Romaine' lettuce.

Food Microbiology — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:44:39 +0100

Authors: Oliveira M, Usall J, Solsona C, Alegre I, Viñas I, Abadias M Fresh produce can be a vehicle for the transmission of pathogens capable of causing human illnesses and some of them can grow on fresh-cut vegetables. The survival and growth of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes inoculated onto shredded lettuce was determined under modified atmosphere packaging conditions, at various storage temperatures. We also monitored changes in pH and gas atmospheres within the packages and the growth of psychrotrophic and mesophilic microorganisms. After pathogen inoculation, shredded lettuce was packaged in films of different permeability and stored at 5 and 25 degrees C. After 10 days at 5 degrees C populations of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella decreas...

Antibody–aptamer functionalized fibre-optic biosensor for specific detection of Listeria monocytogenes from food

Journal of Applied Microbiology — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Based on the data presented in this study, the antibody[ndash]aptamer functionalized fibre-optic biosensor could be used as a detection tool for sensitive and specific detection of L. monocytogenes from foods.Significance and Impact of the Study: The study demonstrates feasibility and novel application of aptamer on fibre-optic biosensor platform for the sensitive detection of L. monocytogenes from food products. (Source: Journal of Applied Microbiology)

Listeria and Salmonella bacterial vectors of tumor-associated antigens for cancer immunotherapy.

Seminars in Immunology — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Paterson Y, Guirnalda PD, Wood LM This review covers the use of the facultative intracellular bacteria, Listeriamonocytogenes and Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium as delivery systems for tumor-associated antigens in tumor immunotherapy. Because of their ability to infect and survive in antigen presenting cells, these bacteria have been harnessed to deliver tumor antigens to the immune system both as bacterially expressed proteins and encoded on eukaryotic plasmids. They do this in the context of strong innate immunity, which provides the required stimulus to the immune response to break tolerance against those tumor-associated antigens that bear homology to self. Here we describe differences in the properties of these bacteria as vaccine vectors, a summary of the major ...

Food inspectors struggle to meet new demands

CTV Health — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:05:53 +0100

As public-health authorities investigate a new meat recall over fears of listeria contamination, federal food inspectors say they're still not adequately funded to keep up with plant inspections. (Source: CTV Health)

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Listeria-contaminated meat prompts lawsuit

CBC | Health — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:53:30 +0100

The latest meat recall due to concerns over listeria contamination has prompted a proposed class action. (Source: CBC | Health)

CFIA warns about listeria bacteria in certain meats

CTV Health — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:04:06 +0100

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Siena Foods say samples of Siena brand Coppa and Siena brand Prosciuttini, with best before dates between June 20 and June 22, tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. (Source: CTV Health)

Listeria, salmonella worries lead to recalls

CBC | Health — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:29:31 +0100

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a pair of food recalls because of concerns about Listeria monocytogenes and salmonella. (Source: CBC | Health)

CFIA issues 2 food recalls over listeria, salmonella

CTV Health — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:44:10 +0100

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a pair of food recalls because of concerns about Listeria monocytogenes and salmonella. (Source: CTV Health)

Controlled protein release from viable Lactococcus lactis cells.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Stentz R, Bongaerts RJ, Gunning AP, Gasson M, Shearman C The overexpression of the lactococcal CsiA protein affects cell wall integrity of growing cells and leads to leakage of intracellular material. This property was optimised and exploited for the targeted release of biologically active compounds into the extracellular environment, thereby providing a new delivery system for bacterial proteins and peptides. The effect of different levels of CsiA expression on leakage of endogenous lactate dehydrogenase and nucleic acids was measured and related to its impact on Lactococcus lactis cell viability and growth. A leakage phenotype was obtained from cells expressing both recombinant and non-recombinant forms of CsiA. As proof of principle, we demonstrated that CsiA promotes the e...

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Listeria seeligeri isolates from food processing environments form two phylogenetic lineages.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Müller AA, Schmid MW, Meyer O, Meussdoerffer FG Seven different actA subtypes forming two phylogenetic lineages could be distinguished by sequencing the actA gene of Listeria seeligeri isolates from different habitats. Isolates of the two lineages differ in hemolytic as well as phospholipase activities and in the arrangement of the virulence gene cluster. The presence of a serine protease gene resembling orf2110 of L. monocytogenes in some isolates further supports the hypothesis that L. seeligeri is subject to ongoing adaptation to changing environments. PMID: 20228097 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Applied and Environmental Microbiology)

Population dynamics of two antilisterial cheese surface consortia revealed by temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis

BMC Microbiology - Latest articles — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: This work reports the first population dynamics study of complex smear ecosystems exhibiting in situ antilisterial activity. TTGE revealed the presence of marine lactic acid bacteria that are likely related to the strong Listeria inhibition, as their early development in the smear occurred simultaneously with a decrease in Listeria cell count. (Source: BMC Microbiology - Latest articles)

Listeria monocytogenes infection in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Clinical Rheumatology — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:01:41 +0100

This article describes five new cases of LMI in patient with SLE in a cohort of 174 patients (2.8%). All patients were women, with a mean age of 19.4 years (range, 5–29 years). Mean duration of SLE before clinical LMI was 2.8 years (range, 2–4 years). Recurrent infection was not evidenced. At the time of LMI, all patients had an inactive disease, receiving steroids and immunosuppressive treatment. Clinical picture of meningitis was present in two patients. All patients were treated with ampicillin, with resolution of clinical manifestations without sequels. In order to eliminate the intracellular forms of L. monocytogenes, trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole was initiated, and an allergic skin reaction was presented in all but one patient. Our report highlights th...

Listeria-derived ActA is an effective adjuvant for primary and metastatic tumor immunotherapy

Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:38:26 +0100

Abstract Tumor immunotherapy is currently at the cusp of becoming an important aspect of comprehensive cancer treatment in the clinic. However, the need for improved adjuvants to augment immune responses against tumor antigens is always present. In this paper, we characterize the Listeria monocytogenes-derived actin-nucleating protein, ActA, as a novel adjuvant for use in tumor immunotherapy. ActA is a virulence factor that is expressed on the cell surface of L. monocytogenes and facilitates the production of actin tails that propel Listeria throughout the cytosol of an infected host cell. It is believed that this ActA-dependent cytosolic motility allows Listeria to evade adaptive host cell defenses and facilitates its invasion into a proximal uninfected host cell. However, t...

Organic B.C. cheese recalled on listeria fears

CTV Health — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:00:36 +0100

Organic Camembert cheese from B.C.'s Saltspring Island could contain listeria, and is now subject to a product recall, according to the provincial Centre for Disease Control. (Source: CTV Health)

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Biotechnology Techniques for Tracing Food Pathogens

About.com Biotech Biomedical — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Dr. Shu Chen from the University of Guelph (Canada) presented this afternoon at the Annual North American Summit on Food Safety, describing her work on developing molecular methods for food safety and quality monitoring. There are several molecular methods for genotyping food pathogens and tracing them back to their source. These include: Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP); and, Multiple Locus Variable Number Tandem Repeat Analysis (MVLA). Examples of AFLP applications are the PCR-based BAX (Dupont) and Assurance GDS (BioControl) detection platforms. AFLP works much like RFLP, except that, following digestion of the DNA sample with restriction enzymes, the sticky ends of the resulting fragments are ligated (attached) to adapter sequences and specific combinations of adaptor-f...

Estrella Family Creamery Recalls Old Apple Tree Tomme Cheese Due to Possible Health Risks

Food and Drug Administration — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 03:01:00 +0100

The Estrella Family Creamery of Montesano, Washington, is recalling a production of Old Apple Tree Tomme cheese because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infections can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. (Source: Food and Drug Administration)

Modelling the lag period and exponential growth of Listeria monocytogenes under fluctuating temperature and Aw values.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Muñoz-Cuevas M, Fernández PS, George S, Pin C The dynamic model for the growth of a bacterial population described by Baranyi and Roberts (1994, Int J. Food Microbiol. 23: 277-294) has been applied to model the lag period and exponential growth of L. monocytogenes under fluctuating temperature and Aw values. To model the lag phase duration, the dependence of the parameter, h0, that quantifies the amount of work to be done during the lag period, on the previous and current environmental conditions was determined experimentally. This parameter depended not only on the magnitude of the change between the previous and current environmental factor but also on the current growth conditions. In an exponentially growing population, any change of the environment causing a cer...

Single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping showed that mutations leading to a premature stop codon in inlA are common among Listeria monocytogenes isolates from ready-to-eat foods but not human listeriosis cases.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Van Stelten A, Simpson JM, Ward TJ, Nightingale KK Listeria monocytogenes utilizes Internalin A (InlA; encoded by inlA) to cross the intestinal barrier to establish a systemic infection. Multiple naturally-occurring mutations leading to a premature stop codon (PMSC) in inlA have been reported worldwide and these mutations are causally associated with attenuated virulence. Five inlA PMSC mutations recently discovered among isolates from France and the U.S. were included as additional markers in our previously described inlA single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping assay. This assay was used to screen >1,000 L. monocytogenes isolates from ready-to-eat (RTE) foods (n=502) and human listeriosis cases (n=507) for 18 inlA PMSC mutations. A significantly (P < 0.0001) gre...

Effect of heat treatment on the antibacterial activity of bovine lactoferrin against three foodborne pathogens

International Journal of Dairy Technology — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The effect of different heat treatments on the antimicrobial activity of bovine lactoferrin against Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella enteritidis and Listeria monocytogenes has been studied. We have observed that the heat treatments lower than 85°C for 10 min did not affect the antibacterial activity of the protein. Hydrolysates of bovine lactoferrin were found to be more active than the native protein against the three pathogens. Moreover, the antibacterial effect of bovine lactoferrin was also assayed in milk and whey, and although we found a reduction in the number of viable cells, this reduction was lower than in culture media. (Source: International Journal of Dairy Technology)

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IFN-gamma triggers CCR2-independent monocyte entry into the brain during systemic infection by virulent L. monocytogenes.

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Drevets DA, Dillon MJ, Schawang JE, Stoner JA, Leenen PJ Listeria monocytogenes(Lm) is a bacterial pathogen that infects the brain via parasitized monocytes. CCR2 is important for monocyte migration into the brain after it is infected, but the degree of CCR2 involvement in monocyte migration to the CNS during systemic infection is less clear. Our recent data demonstrate that systemic infection with non-neuroinvasive DeltaactALm mutants triggers IFN-gamma-dependent brain influxes of Ly-6C(high) monocytes. Studies presented here tested the extent to which CCR2 and IFN-gamma are essential for monocyte migration to the brain during systemic infection with virulent Lm. For this, we assessed expression of monocyte-attracting chemokines in brains of normal and IFN-gamma-/- mice durin...

Inhibitory effect of clove oil (syzium aromaticum) against listeria monocytogenes cells incubated in fresh-cut salmon

Journal of Food Safety — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The ability of Listeria monocytogenes to survive and grow at refrigeration temperature in a wide spectrum of foods is a public health concern. Essential oil of clove (Syzium aromaticum) was investigated for its ability to inhibit the growth of this pathogen in food. Three strains of L. monocytogenes (106 cfu/g) were inoculated on fresh-cut salmon and stored (4C and 25C) for 2 weeks. The effect of clove oil (1% and 2%) on the growth of cells was determined. The results proved that all strains survived and grew at 4C and 25C. In addition, we noted that the growth was inhibited under storage conditions in the presence of clove oil (1% or 2%). Listeria counts in treated samples were 1[ndash]4 log10 cfu/g less compared with controls at different intervals during storage. The results revealed th...

Sakacin a-containing pullulan film: an active packaging system to control epidemic clones of listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods

Journal of Food Safety — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In this study, we demonstrated the effectiveness of sakacin A-containing pullulan films to control Listeria monocytogenes growth and the applicability of active pullulan films as a means of delivering a bacteriocin directly to a food surface. Pullulan films require less antimicrobial, demonstrate longer antimicrobial activity and allow for controlled migration of the molecule from film to the food matrix, as compared with the direct addition of sakacin A to ready-to-eat meat products. (Source: Journal of Food Safety)

Rhombencephalitis Caused by Listeria monocytogenes in Humans and Ruminants: A Zoonosis on the Rise?

Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:26:57 +0100

Listeriosis is an emerging zoonotic infection of humans and ruminants worldwide caused by Listeria monocytogenes (LM). In both host species, CNS disease accounts for the high mortality associated with listeriosis and includes rhombencephalitis, whose neuropathology is strikingly similar in humans and ruminants. This review discusses the current knowledge about listeric encephalitis, and involved host and bacterial factors. There is an urgent need to study the molecular mechanisms of neuropathogenesis, which are poorly understood. Such studies will provide a basis for the development of new therapeutic strategies that aim to prevent LM from invading the brain and spread within the CNS. (Source: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases)

Reduced Host Cell Invasiveness and Oxidative Stress Tolerance in Double and Triple csp Gene Family Deletion Mutants of Listeria monocytogenes

Foodborne Pathogens and Disease — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 04:59:58 +0100

Foodborne Pathogens and Disease , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Foodborne Pathogens and Disease)

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[Acute encephalopathy, hydrocephalus and central diabetes insipidus as the first signs of Listeria monocytogenes meningitis.]

Anales de Pediatria — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Montejo Gañán I, Romera Santabárbara B, García Iñiguez JP, Ruiz Del Olmo Izuzquiza I, Domínguez Cajal MM, Monge Galindo L, Madurga Revilla P PMID: 20189898 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Anales de Pediatria)

Extracellular and intracellular pathogen recognition by Drosophila PGRP-LE and PGRP-LC

International Immunology — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:28:22 +0100

Despite lacking the adaptive immunity that is found in higher vertebrates, insects are able to defend themselves from a large battery of pathogens by multiple innate immune responses using molecular mechanisms that are strikingly similar to the innate immune responses of other multicellular organisms, including humans. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is therefore an excellent model organism for studying the basic principles of innate immunity using genetic and molecular biology techniques. In Drosophila, invading pathogens that pass through the epithelial barriers (a first line of self-defense) can encounter humoral and cellular responses that utilize pattern-recognition receptors to identify pathogen-associated molecular patterns in the hemolymph or on the immune cell surface. Some ...

What Is Listeria Infection (Listeriosis)? What Causes Listeria Infection?

GastroIntestinal News From Medical News Today — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0100

Listeria, also called listeriosis, is an infection that is usually contracted by eating food that has been contaminated by a type of bacteria called listeria monocytogenes. Many people may have had a listeria infection and remained unaware of it. This is because when this illness causes symptoms, they are usually mild and can be easily mistaken for other illnesses, such as flu... (Source: GastroIntestinal News From Medical News Today)

Synthetic Human Chorionic Gonadotropin–Related Oligopeptides Impair Early Innate Immune Responses to Listeria monocytogenes in Mice

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 08:10:31 +0100

Conclusion. These data show that treatment with hCG‐related oligopeptides (LQGV, VLPALP, and AQGV) inhibits early innate immune activation by reducing initial chemokine secretion following infection. This leads to bacterial overgrowth with subsequent enhanced systemic inflammation. Our data underscore the importance of early innate immune activation and suggest a role for hCG‐derived oligopeptides at the placenta that increases the risk of L. monocytogenes infections. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Queseria Bendita Recalls Queso Fresco, Panela, and Requeson Because of Possible Health Risk

Food and Drug Administration — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 04:02:00 +0100

Queseria Bendita of Yakima, Wash., is recalling three types of cheese, Queso Fresco, Panela, and Requeson, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. (Source: Food and Drug Administration)

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Autonomous growth of isolated single L. monocytogenes and S. Typhimurium cells in the absence of growth factors and intercellular contact.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Roeder B, Wagner M, Rossmanith P The aim of this study was to observe growth of isolated single bacterial cells in the absence of growth factors and intercellular contact. In order to exclude stochastic uncertainties induced by dilution series, a new micromanipulation method was developed to ensure explicit results under visual control. This was performed with particular care for production of single prokaryotic cells and subsequent investigation of their autonomous growth. Over 450 single isolated Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium cells were investigated in lag-, log-, and stationary growth phases including thoroughly washing of the cells. The proportion of living cells within the initial cultures was compared to the proportion...

Plasmid-associated bacteriocin production by Lactobacillus LMG21688 suppresses Listeria monocytogenes growth rebound in a food system

FEMS Microbiology Letters — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus curvatus CWBI-B28wt is not completely effective against Listeria monocytogenes in food models. There is evidence suggesting that bacteriocin-degrading proteolytic enzymes produced by the CWBI-B28wt strain and/or present in the food matrix contribute to this rebound of Listeria growth. To limit this problem, we have partially characterized an approximately 10-kb plasmid responsible for bacteriocin production in L. curvatus CWBI-B28wt. This plasmid was transferred by high-voltage electroporation into a less proteolytic, but technologically competent Lactobacillus strain. When the transformed strain was used as a starter culture in a model food system, a high bacteriocin level was maintained for a longer time than with CWBI-B28wt, and Listeria growth rebo...

The growth and survival of food-borne pathogens in sweet and fermenting brewers' wort.

International Journal of Food Microbiology — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Menz G, Vriesekoop F, Zarei M, Zhu B, Aldred P The aim of this study was to investigate the factors affecting the survival and growth of four food-borne pathogens (Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus) in sweet and fermenting brewery wort. The Gram-negative pathogens (E. coli and Salm. Typhimurium) were capable of growth during the initial stages of fermentation in hopped wort, although they were quickly inactivated when added during the later stages of fermentation. When the wort was left unpitched, the two Gram-negative pathogens grew unabated. Pathogen growth and survival was enhanced as the pH was increased, and as both the ethanol and original gravity were decreased. Although having no effect on the Gram-negat...

High-throughput genome sequencing of two Listeria monocytogenes clinical isolates during a large foodborne outbreak

BMC Genomics - Latest articles — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: High-throughput genome sequencing provided a more detailed real-time assessment of genetic traits characteristic of the outbreak strains than could be achieved with routine subtyping methods. This study confirms that the latest generation of DNA sequencing technologies can be applied during high priority public health events, and laboratories need to prepare for this inevitability and assess how to properly analyze and interpret whole genome sequences in the context of molecular epidemiology. (Source: BMC Genomics - Latest articles)

Estrella Family Creamery Expands Recall Of Various Cheeses Because Of Possible Health Risk

Food and Drug Administration — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:32:00 +0100

Estrella Family Creamery of Montesano, WA is recalling Brewleggio, Domino, and Wynoochee River Blue cheeses because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. (Source: Food and Drug Administration)

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A Novel Listeria monocytogenes-Based DNA Delivery System for Cancer Gene Therapy

Human Gene Therapy — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 04:06:30 +0100

Human Gene Therapy , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Human Gene Therapy)

Attribution of Human Listeria monocytogenes Infections in England and Wales to Ready-to-Eat Food Sources Placed on the Market: Adaptation of the Hald Salmonella Source Attribution Model

Foodborne Pathogens and Disease — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 04:06:06 +0100

Foodborne Pathogens and Disease , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Foodborne Pathogens and Disease)

Diversity of the CD8+ T Cell Repertoire Elicited against an Immunodominant Epitope Does Not Depend on the Context of Infection.

Journal of Immunology — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Rudd BD, Venturi V, Smithey MJ, Way SS, Davenport MP, Nikolich-Zugich J The diversity of the pathogen-specific T cell repertoire is believed to be important in allowing recognition of different pathogen epitopes and their variants and thereby reducing the opportunities for mutation-driven pathogen escape. However, the extent to which the TCR repertoire can be manipulated by different vaccine strategies so as to obtain broad diversity and optimal protection is incompletely understood. We have investigated the influence of the infectious/inflammatory context on the TCR diversity of the CD8(+) T cell response specific for the immunodominant epitope in C57BL/6 mice, derived from glycoprotein B of HSV-1. To that effect, we compared TCR V segment utilization, CDR3 length, and sequen...

H2-M3-restricted CD8(+) T cells augment CD4(+) T cell responses by promoting dendritic cell maturation.

European Journal of Immunology — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This study indicates that H2-M3-restricted T cells promote immune responses by CD4(+) T cells by inducing DC maturation and suggests novel mechanisms for vaccine development. PMID: 20162552 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Journal of Immunology)

A regulatory role for macrophage class A scavenger receptors in TLR4-mediated LPS responses.

European Journal of Immunology — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Chen Y, Wermeling F, Sundqvist J, Jonsson AB, Tryggvason K, Pikkarainen T, Karlsson MC Recognition of microbial components by TLRs, key sensors of infection, leads to induction of inflammatory responses. We found that, in vivo, TLR4 engagement by LPS induces up-regulation of class A scavenger receptors (SRs) MARCO and SR-A, which occurs, at least in case of MARCO, via both MyD88-dependent and -independent pathways.When challenging mice with a low dose of LPS followed by a high dose, class A SR-deficient mice showed a higher survival rate than WT mice. This was paired with increased production of IL-10 and anti-LPS Abs, as well as increased activation status of marginal zone (MZ) B-cells. However, the receptors were not crucial for survival when challenging mice i.p. with Neiss...

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alpha-galactosylceramide ameliorates murine listeriosis by accelerating infiltration of Gr-1(+) cells and gamma/deltaT cells into the liver.

European Journal of Immunology — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Emoto M, Emoto Y, Yoshizawa I, Kita E, Shimizu T, Hurwitz R, Brinkmann V, Kaufmann SH alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer) activates invariant (i)NKT cells, which in turn stimulate immunocompetent cells. Although activation of iNKT cells appears critical for regulation of immune responses, it remains elusive whether protection against intracellular bacteria can be induced by alpha-GalCer. Here we show that alpha-GalCer treatment ameliorates murine listeriosis, and inhibits inflammation following Listeria monocytogenes infection. Liver infiltration of Gr-1(+) cells and gamma/delta T cells was accelerated by alpha-GalCer treatment. Gr-1(+) cells and gamma/delta T cell depletion exacerbated listeriosis in alpha-GalCer-treated mice, and this effect was more pronounced after dep...

Induction of IFN-{alpha}{beta} enables Listeria monocytogenes to suppress macrophage activation by IFN-{gamma}

The Journal of Experimental Medicine — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:21:57 +0100

Production of type I interferon (IFN; IFN-β) increases host susceptibility to Listeria monocytogenes, whereas type II IFN (IFN-) activates macrophages to resist infection. We show that these opposing immunological effects of IFN-β and IFN- occur because of cross talk between the respective signaling pathways. We found that cultured macrophages infected with L. monocytogenes were refractory to IFN- treatment as a result of down-regulation of the IFN- receptor (IFNGR). The soluble factor responsible for these effects was identified as host IFN-β. Accordingly, macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) showed reduced IFNGR1 expression and reduced responsiveness to IFN- during systemic infection of IFN-β–responsive mice. Furthermore, the increased resistance of mice lackin...

Evaluation of fermentation, drying, and/or high pressure processing on viability of Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., and Trichinella spiralis in raw pork and Genoa salami.

International Journal of Food Microbiology — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Porto-Fett AC, Call JE, Shoyer BE, Hill DE, Pshebniski C, Cocoma GJ, Luchansky JB We evaluated the effectiveness of fermentation, drying, and high pressure processing (HPP) to inactivate Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., and Trichinella spiralis in Genoa salami produced with trichinae-infected pork. In addition, we evaluated the effectiveness of using HPP to inactivate T. spiralis larvae in pig masseter tissue. In part A, Genoa salami batter (about 2.3log larvae/g) prepared with trichinae-infected pork was separately spiked with a five-strain cocktail of each microbial pathogen (about 7.0log CFU/g) and subsequently fermented at 20 degrees C and about 90 to 95% RH for 6h and then at 27 degrees C and about 90 to 95% RH for 26h before being dried ...

Estrella Family Creamery Recalls Red Darla Cheese Due to Possible Health Risks

Food and Drug Administration — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 05:09:00 +0100

The Estrella Family Creamery of Montesano, Washington, is recalling its Red Darla cheese because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. (Source: Food and Drug Administration)

Estrella Family Creamery Recalls Red Darla Cheese Due to Possible Health Risks

Food and Drug Administration — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 05:09:00 +0100

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The microbiological safety of ready-to-eat specialty meats from markets and specialty food shops: A UK wide study with a focus on Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.

Food Microbiology — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 01:08:30 +0100

This study highlights the importance of ensuring that products do not become contaminated before final packaging, that storage conditions are controlled, and that durability dates are an accurate indication of the shelf life of the product so as to minimise the potential for L. monocytogenes to be present at levels hazardous to health at the point of sale. PMID: 20141942 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Food Microbiology)

The effects of temperature, chlorine and acids on the survival of Listeria and Salmonella strains associated with uncooked shrimp carapace and cooked shrimp flesh.

Food Microbiology — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 01:08:27 +0100

Authors: Wan Norhana MN, Poole SE, Deeth HC, Dykes GA The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of the association of Listeria and Salmonella with shrimp surfaces on the effects of temperature, chlorine and acids on their survival. Planktonic, attached and colonized cells of Listeria monocytogenes Scott A, L. monocytogenes V7, Salmonella Senftenberg 1734b and S. Typhimurium ATCC 14028 were challenged with high (50 degrees , 60 degrees and 70 degrees C) and low (4 degrees C) temperature, 100 ppm sodium hypochlorite solution, and acetic, hydrochloric and lactic acids (pH 4.0). Attached and colonized Listeria and Salmonella showed significantly greater (p < 0.05) resistance to heat ( approximately 1.3-2.6 fold increase in D-values), hypochlorite ( approximately 6.6 >/= 4...

Effect of high pressure on the microbiological quality of cooked chicken during storage at normal and abuse refrigeration temperatures.

Food Microbiology — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 01:08:22 +0100

Authors: Patterson MF, McKay AM, Connolly M, Linton M Vacuum-packaged cooked poultry meat was treated at a range of pressures (400-600 MPa) and hold times (1, 2 and 10 min), followed by storage at 4 degrees , 8 degrees or 12 degrees C for up to 35 days. Weissella viridescens was found to be the dominant microorganism in the pressure-treated meat, constituting 100% of the microflora identified at 500 and 600 MPa. None of the pressure-treated samples had obvious signs of spoilage during the 35 day storage period, even when the Weissella count was >7 log(10) cfu/g. Studies on a typical W. viridescens isolate showed it to be relatively pressure-resistant in poultry meat, with <1 log reduction in numbers after a treatment of 2 min at 600 MPa. Agar diffusion assays showed that the isol...

Diversity of culturable microorganisms and occurrence of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. in Tuber aestivum and Tuber melanosporum ascocarps.

Food Microbiology — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 01:08:13 +0100

Authors: Rivera CS, Blanco D, Oria R, Venturini ME The aim of this study was to investigate the total mesophilic microorganisms, Pseudomonas genus, Enterobacteriaceae family, mold and yeast counts and the presence of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp on Tuber aestivum and Tuber melanosporum ascocarps. The results confirmed that the major percentage of the microorganisms, approximately 9.0 log ufc/g, were present in the peridium, the glebas of healthy truffles being practically free of microorganisms. The predominant microbial group was the Pseudomonas averaging 8.3 and 8.4 log cfu/g on T. aestivum and T. melanosporum whole ascocarps, respectively. The Enterobacteriaceae also achieved high populations, especially in T. aestivum truffles, with 6.3 log cfu/g. Molds and yeasts neve...

Assessment of the anti-listerial activity of microfloras from the surface of smear-ripened cheeses.

Food Microbiology — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 01:08:08 +0100

Authors: Monnet C, Bleicher A, Neuhaus K, Sarthou AS, Leclercq-Perlat MN, Irlinger F The anti-listerial activity of microfloras from the surface of various smear-ripened cheeses was evaluated using four methods that were then compared. Method A measured the anti-listerial potential of supernatants from short-time liquid cultures, whereas in Method B, a model cheese was co-inoculated with the microflora and Listeria innocua test strains. Method C was based on successive propagations of the microfloras on this model cheese, and Method D on successive propagations of the microfloras together with Listeria test strains. Anti-listerial activity considerably depended on the microflora used. Significant correlations were obtained between Methods A and B and Methods C and D. With Methods C and...

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De novo sequencing of two new cyclic theta-defensins from baboon (Papio hamadryas) leukocytes by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.

Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry : RCM — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Stegemann C, Tsvetkova EV, Aleshina GM, Lehrer RI, Kokryakov VN, Hoffmann R Two cyclic theta-defensin peptides were isolated from leukocytes of the hamadryas baboon, Papio hamadryas, and purified to homogeneity by gel electrophoresis and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Both peptides had high in vitro activity against Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Candida albicans. Here, we report their de novo sequencing by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS). This was accomplished by combining conventional enzymatic digestion with N-terminal derivatization by 2-sulfobenzoic acid cyclic anhydride (SACA) or 4-sulfophenylisothiocyanate (SPIT...

Listeria experiments probed at U of Saskatchewan

CBC | Health — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:20:30 +0100

A senior researcher at the Saskatoon Cancer Centre at the University of Saskatchewan is under investigation for running unauthorized experiments - injecting lab mice with listeria bacteria. (Source: CBC | Health)

Listeria experiments probed at U of S

CBC | Health — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:20:30 +0100

Sask. university listeria experiments probed

CBC | Health — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:20:30 +0100

Microbiological and molecular investigation of an increase of human listeriosis in Belgium, 2006-2007

Eurosurveillance latest news — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In this study we present evidence for an episode of listeriosis: a time-linked cluster of cases that occurred in 2006 and 2007, and the identification of identical strains. The episode involved 11 patients, infected with Listeria monocytogenes of serovar 4b. The source of infection was not detected. (Source: Eurosurveillance latest news)

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Development and evaluation of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (lamp) method for detecting listeria monocytogenes in raw milk

Journal of Food Safety — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The performance of a Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for detecting food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes was presented in this paper. Three pairs of primers were specially designed for recognizing eight distinct sequences of iap gene (P60 extracellular protein, invasion associated protein IAP). Time and temperature conditions for amplification of L. monocytogenes were optimized to be 40 min at 63C. Detection limit level for artificially contaminated raw milk samples by the LAMP assay was 186 cfu/mL corresponding to 8[ndash]10 cells per reaction tube, while the detection level by conventional PCR was 1.86 × 105 cfu/mL. Data on natural raw milk samples indicated that the LAMP method was highly specific and sensitive, giving 91.67% concordance with the ISO 10560 refe...

Molecular methods to assess Listeria monocytogenes route of contamination in a dairy processing plant.

International Journal of Food Microbiology — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This study underlines the necessity to use appropriate analytical tools, such as molecular methods, to fully understand the spread and persistence of L. monocytogenes in food producing companies. PMID: 20193970 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Food Microbiology)

Conquering the complex world of human septins: implications for health and disease.

Clinical Genetics — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Peterson EA, Petty EM Peterson EA and Petty EM. Conquering the complex world of human septins: implications for health and disease. Septins are highly conserved filamentous proteins first characterized in budding yeast and subsequently identified in must eukaryotes. Septins can bind and hydrolyze GTP, which is intrinsically related to their formation of septin hexamers and functional protein interactions. The human septin family is composed of 14 loci, SEPT1-SEPT14, which encode dozens of different septin proteins. Their central GTPase and polybasic domain regions are highly conserved but they diverge in their N-terminus and/or C-terminus. The mechanism by which the different isoforms are generated is not yet well understood, but one can hypothesize that the use of different p...

Cancer Research UK To Fund Clinical Trial Of ADXS11-001 For The Treatment Of Head And Neck Cancer

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Advaxis, Inc., (OTCBB: ADXS), the live, attenuated Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) immunotherapy company, is pleased to announce that Cancer Research UK (CRUK), the UK philanthropy dedicated to cancer research, has agreed to fund the cost of a clinical trial to investigate the use of ADXS11-001, Advaxis' lead human papilloma virus (HPV)-directed vaccine candidate, for the treatment of head and neck cancer... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Characterization of a bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus sakei R1333 isolated from smoked salmon.

Anaerobe — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Todorov SD, Rachman C, Fourrier A, Dicks LM, van Reenen CA, Prévost H, Dousset X Strain R1333, isolated from commercially available smoked salmon, was identified as Lactobacillus sakei based on biochemical tests, sugar fermentation reactions (API 50 CHL), PCR with species-specific primers and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Strain R1333 produces a 3,811 kDa class IIa bacteriocin, active against Streptococcus caprinus, Streptococcus macedonicus, Streptococcus spp., Lactobacillus sakei, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, Listeria innocua, Listeria ivanovii subsp. ivanovii and Listeria monocytogenes. The mode of activity against L. innocua 2030C and L. ivanovii subsp. ivanovii ATCC19119 was bactericidal, resulting in cell lysis and enzyme- and DNA-leakage. The highest level ...

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Defining a role for Hfq in Gram-positive bacteria: evidence for Hfq-dependent antisense regulation in Listeria monocytogenes

Nucleic Acids Research — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:44:13 +0100

Small trans-encoded RNAs (sRNAs) modulate the translation and decay of mRNAs in bacteria. In Gram-negative species, antisense regulation by trans-encoded sRNAs relies on the Sm-like protein Hfq. In contrast to this, Hfq is dispensable for sRNA-mediated riboregulation in the Gram-positive species studied thus far. Here, we provide evidence for Hfq-dependent translational repression in the Gram-positive human pathogen Listeria monocytogenes, which is known to encode at least 50 sRNAs. We show that the Hfq-binding sRNA LhrA controls the translation and degradation of its target mRNA by an antisense mechanism, and that Hfq facilitates the binding of LhrA to its target. The work presented here provides the first experimental evidence for Hfq-dependent riboregulation in a Gram-positive bacterium...

A random effect multiplicative heteroscedastic model for bacterial growth

BioMed Central — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: The combination of nonparametric models and bootstrap techniques results in a good procedure to obtain reliable prediction bands in this context. Moreover, the new iterative algorithm proposed in this paper allows one to achieve exactly the prefixed coverage probability for the prediction band. The microbial growth bands reflect the influence of the different environmental conditions on the microorganism behaviour, helping in the interpretation of the biological meaning of the growth curves obtained experimentally. (Source: BioMed Central)

The role of extra-cellular DNA during biofilm formation of Listeria monocytogenes.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Harmsen M, Lappann M, Knøchel S, Molin S Listeria monocytogenes is a food-borne pathogen, capable of prevailing in harsh environments. It is believed to do so by forming biofilms, which are surface associated multi-cellular bacterial structures, encased in a self-produced matrix. In this paper we show that for Listeria monocytogenes extracellular DNA (eDNA) may be the only central component in the matrix, and it is of vital importance for both initial attachment and early biofilm formation of 41 L. monocytogenes strains tested. DNaseI treatment caused dispersal of the biofilm, not only in microtitertray assays but also in flow-cell biofilms. It was, however, furthermore demonstrated that in a culture free of eDNA, neither genomic Listeria nor salmon sperm DNA on their own...

Population diversity of Listeria monocytogenes LO28: Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of high hydrostatic pressure resistant variants.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Van Boeijen IK, Chavaroche AA, Valderrama WB, Moezelaar R, Zwietering MH, Abee T A comparative phenotype analysis of twenty-four Listeria monocytogenes LO28 stress-resistant variants obtained after high pressure treatment was performed to assess their robustness and growth performance in a range of food-relevant conditions. In addition, genetic analysis was conducted to characterize the promoter regions and open reading frames of the class I and III transcriptional repressors, CtsR and HrcA, which control production of specific sets of stress proteins. Analysis of stress survival capacity, motility, biofilm formation, and growth under various conditions showed all variants to be more resistant to pressure and heat than the wild type, however, differences among variants were ob...

A probabilistic model for Listeria monocytogenes growth during distribution, retail and domestic storage of pasteurized milk.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Koutsoumanis K, Pavlis A, Nychas GJ, Xanthiakos K A survey on the time-temperature conditions of pasteurized milk in Greece during transportation to retail, retail storage and domestic storage and handling was performed. The data derived from the survey were described with appropriate probability distributions and introduced to a growth model of Listeria monocytogenes in pasteurized milk which was appropriately modified for taking into account strain variability. Based on the above components, a probabilistic model was applied to evaluate the growth of L. monocytogenes during the chill chain of pasteurized milk using Monte Carlo simulation. The model predicted that, in 44.8% of the milk cartons released in the market, the pathogen will grow until the time of consumption. For t...

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Multiplex Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay for Simultaneous Detection and Quantification of Salmonella Species, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Ground Pork Samples

Foodborne Pathogens and Disease — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:52:56 +0100

Foodborne Pathogens and Disease , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Foodborne Pathogens and Disease)

Short-term inhibition of p53 combined with keratinocyte growth factor improves thymic epithelial cell recovery and enhances T-cell reconstitution after murine bone marrow transplantation

Blood — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:01:42 +0100

Myeloablative conditioning before bone marrow transplantation (BMT) results in thymic epithelial cell (TEC) injury, T-cell immune deficiency, and susceptibility to opportunistic infections. Conditioning regimen–induced TEC damage directly contributes to slow thymopoietic recovery after BMT. Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) is a TEC mitogen that stimulates proliferation and, when given before conditioning, reduces TEC injury. Some TEC subsets are refractory to KGF and functional T-cell responses are not fully restored in KGF-treated BM transplant recipients. Therefore, we investigated whether the addition of a pharmacologic inhibitor, PFT-β, to transiently inhibit p53 during radiotherapy could spare TECs from radiation-induced damage in congenic and allogeneic BMTs. Combined befo...

Virulent Bacteria Offer Insight Into Host-Pathogen Interactions

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +0100

Researchers at National Jewish Health have discovered how the virulent food-borne bacteria Listeria monocytogenes induces infected immune cells to sabotage their own defensive response. The studies offer insight into host-pathogen interactions and suggest potential therapeutic targets for food poisoning, tuberculosis and autoimmune diseases. In the Feb... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Virulent Bacteria Offer Insight Into Host-Pathogen Interactions

Immune System / Vaccines News From Medical News Today — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +0100

National Jewish Health researchers discover how virulent bacteria

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

(National Jewish Medical and Research Center) Researchers at National Jewish Health have discovered how the virulent food-borne bacteria Listeria monocytogenes induces infected immune cells to sabotage their own defensive response. The studies offer insight into host-pathogen interactions and suggest potential therapeutic targets for food poisoning, tuberculosis and autoimmune diseases. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

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In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Phx-3 against Helicobacter pylori.

Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Hanawa T, Osaki T, Manzoku T, Fukuda M, Kawakami H, Tomoda A, Kamiya S Phx-3, one of the phenoxazine derivatives, is reported to have inhibitory effect on Mycobacterium species and Chlamydia pneumoniae but not Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes. The bactericidal activities of Phx-3 against Helicobacter pylori strains have not been assessed. Then, we measured minimum inhibitory concentration of Phx-3 for Helicobacter strains and assessed the morphological and biochemical effects of Phx-3 on H. pylori. In present study, it has shown that H. pylori strains including clarithromycin resistant strain and Helicobacter musterae were killed effectively by the treatment with Phx-3. Furthermore, severe morpholog...

Efficacy of Ultraviolet Light Exposure Against Survival of Listeria monocytogenes on Conveyor Belts

Foodborne Pathogens and Disease — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:13:24 +0100

Foodborne Pathogens and Disease , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Foodborne Pathogens and Disease)

A Multiplex Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction for Simultaneous Detection of Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli O157, and Listeria monocytogenes in Meat Products

Foodborne Pathogens and Disease — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:02:35 +0100

Foodborne Pathogens and Disease , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Foodborne Pathogens and Disease)

Antibiotic treatment for bacterial meningitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes in a patient with multiple myeloma

Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:16:46 +0100

In conclusion, meropenem is useful to treat bacterial meningitis caused by L. monocytogenes. This agent is indicated when ampicillin shows inadequate effect or if the patient has an allergy to ampicillin. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Case ReportDOI 10.1007/s10156-009-0014-3Authors Sadaya Matano, Tonami General Hospital Department of Hematology Tonami Toyama 939-1395 JapanShigehiko Satoh, Tonami General Hospital Department of Internal Medicine Tonami Toyama 939-1395 JapanYukari Harada, Tonami General Hospital Department of Internal Medicine Tonami Toyama 939-1395 JapanHajime Nagata, Tonami General Hospital Department of Clinical Laboratory Tonami Toyama 939-1395 JapanTatsuho Sugimoto, Tonami General Hospital Department of Internal Medicine Tonami Toyama 939-1395 Japan J...

Listeria monocytogenes virulence factor Listeriolysin O favors bacterial growth in co-culture with the ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis, causes protozoan encystment and promotes bacterial survival inside cysts

BMC Microbiology - Latest articles — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: The L. monocytogenes virulence factor LLO promotes bacterial survival and growth in the presence of bacteriovorous ciliate T. pyriformis. LLO is responsible for L. monocytogenes toxicity for protozoa and induction of protozoan encystment. L. monocytogenes entrapped in cysts remained viable and virulent. In whole, LLO activity seems to support bacterial survival in the natural habitat outside of a host. (Source: BMC Microbiology - Latest articles)

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Combined Effects of Alkaline Electrolyzed Water and Citric Acid with Mild Heat to Control Microorganisms on Cabbage

Journal of Food Science — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Effects of alkaline electrolyzed water (AlEW), acidic electrolyzed water (AcEW), 100 ppm sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), deionized water (DIW), 1% citric acid (CA) alone, and combinations of AlEW with 1% CA (AlEW + CA), in reducing the populations of spoilage bacteria and foodborne pathogens on cabbage were investigated at various dipping times (3, 5, and 10 min) with different dipping temperatures (1, 20, 40, and 50 °C). Inhibitory effect of the selected optimal treatment against Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157 : H7 on cabbage were also evaluated. Compared to the untreated control, AlEW treatment most effectively reduced the numbers of total bacteria, yeast, and mold, followed by AcEW and 100-ppm NaClO treatments. All treatments dip washed for 5 min significantly reduced th...

PEF based hurdle strategy to control Pichia fermentans, Listeria innocua and Escherichia coli k12 in orange juice.

International Journal of Food Microbiology — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This study investigates the preservation of orange juice using PEF in combination with nisin (2.5ppm), natamycin (10ppm), benzoic acid (BA; 100ppm), or lactic acid, (LA; 500ppm). Pichia fermentans, a spoilage yeast frequently isolated from orange juice, Escherichia coli k12 or Listeria innocua were inoculated into sterile orange juice (OJ) with, and without, added preservatives. The antimicrobial activity over time was evaluated relative to an untreated control. The effect of PEF treatment (40kV/cm, 100mus; max temperature 56 degrees C) was assessed on its own, and in combination with each antimicrobial. The acidic environment of OJ inactivated E. coli k12 (1.5log reduction) and L. innocua (0.7log reduction) slightly but had no effect on P. fermentans. PEF caused a significant decrease (P&...

Canada's Food Safety System Fails International Comparisons

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:00:00 +0100

Canada's food safety system is reactive, lags behind other countries, and investment is needed to ensure it can adequately protect Canadians, states an article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). Foodborne illness surveillance is needed to ensure safety from gastrointestinal infections caused by bacteria such as toxigenic E.coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Listeria. As there is no national foodborne illness surveillance program in Canada, the estimated 11 million cases of foodborne illness every year are based on surveys of self-reported gastrointestinal illness... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Canada's Food Safety System Fails International Comparisons

GastroIntestinal News From Medical News Today — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:00:00 +0100

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of listeria species in food products in bangkok, thailand

Journal of Food Safety — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

A total of 380 meat and meat products, dairy and dairy products, fresh vegetables, fresh seafood, and ready-to-eat food samples from supermarkets in Bangkok, Thailand were collected and analyzed for the occurrence of Listeria spp. and of Listeria monocytogenes. The overall incidence of Listeria spp. was 16.8%, most of them were isolated from raw meat and vegetables. L. monocytogenes was isolated from 18 (4.7%) out of 380 studied samples. Other species isolated were L. innocua (6.6%), L. ivanovii (0.8%), L. seeligeri (0.5%), L. grayi (1.6%) and L. welshimeri (2.6%). The antimicrobial susceptibilities of the 64 isolate of Listeria spp. were also examined by the standard disk diffusion method. Listeria spp. were resistant to penicillin (6.3%), chloramphenicol (3.1%) and tetracycline (1.6%), b...

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Antimicrobial activity of pu-erh tea extracts in vitro and its effects on the preservation of cooled mutton

Journal of Food Safety — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The inhibitory effect of the extract of pu-erh tea (PETs) against six strains by paper-diffusion methods and the characterization of the mutton treated with different concentrations of the PETs during storage at 7 ± 1C were evaluated in this article. The results showed PETs could significantly inhibit the growth of Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella typhimurium, Streptococcicosis faecalis, Escherichia coli and Bacillus anthraci, and their minimum inhibitory concentration were 0.07, 0.18, 0.50, 0.42 and 0.48 mg/mL, respectively. PETs showed weak inhibition for S. aureus. The cooled mutton treated with PETs resulted in suppression in the increase of total volatile base nitrogen and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, inhibition of Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas growth. The cooled mu...

Radiation sensitivity of 3-strain cocktail pathogens inoculated into seasoned and fermented squid and enhancement of microbial quality by irradiation

Journal of Food Safety — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Commercial squid Jeotkal was purchased, radiation-sterilized, and inoculated with a 3-strain cocktail of each Listeria monocytogenes (ATCC 19114, 19115, and 19111), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538, 25923, and 29213), and Vibrio parahaemolyticus (ATCC 17802, 33844, and 27969). The inoculated samples were then irradiated again at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 5 kGy. The D10 values of the cocktail of each L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, and V. parahaemolyticus were 0.85, 0.83, and 0.25 kGy, respectively. No viable cells were detected at 5 kGy of irradiation. Commercial squid Jeotkal was also irradiated without sterilization and showed that irradiation significantly reduced the initial microbial level not only immediately after irradiation but also during storage at 10C for 4 weeks (P < 0.05). The total aer...

Listeria monocytogenes EGD-e continuous flow biofilm formation is dependent on SOS response factor YneA.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: van der Veen S, Abee T Listeria monocytogenes was previously shown to form biofilms composed of a network of knitted chains in continuous flow conditions. Here we show that the SOS response is activated under these conditions and that deletion of its regulon member yneA results in diminished biofilm formation in continuous flow conditions. PMID: 20097825 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Applied and Environmental Microbiology)

The Wisconsin Cheeseman® Recalls Cheese Logs/Cheese Balls

Food and Drug Administration — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:16:00 +0100

The Wisconsin Cheeseman® announced today that it is recalling cheese log/cheese ball products in conjunction with the voluntary recall initiated by Parkers Farm, Inc. on January 15, 2010. Parkers Farm, Inc., located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, believes some of its food items have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria (Source: Food and Drug Administration)

The Wisconsin Cheeseman® Recalls Cheese Logs/Cheese Balls

Food and Drug Administration — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:16:00 +0100

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Shelf Life Extension of Ricotta Cheese Using Coatings of Galactomannans from Nonconventional Sources Incorporating Nisin against Listeria monocytogenes

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:43:47 +0100

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Volume 0, Issue 0, Articles ASAP (As Soon As Publishable). (Source: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry)

Exaggerated inflammation, impaired host defense, and neuropathology in progranulin-deficient mice

The Journal of Experimental Medicine — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:03:36 +0100

Progranulin (PGRN) is a widely expressed protein involved in diverse biological processes. Haploinsufficiency of PGRN in the human causes tau-negative, ubiquitin-positive frontotemporal dementia (FTD). However, the mechanisms are unknown. To explore the role of PGRN in vivo, we generated PGRN-deficient mice. Macrophages from these mice released less interleukin-10 and more inflammatory cytokines than wild type (WT) when exposed to bacterial lipopolysaccharide. PGRN-deficient mice failed to clear Listeria monocytogenes infection as quickly as WT and allowed bacteria to proliferate in the brain, with correspondingly greater inflammation than in WT. PGRN-deficient macrophages and microglia were cytotoxic to hippocampal cells in vitro, and PGRN-deficient hippocampal slices were hypersusceptibl...

Drugs like Tylenol can be contaminated with mold and chemicals

NaturalNews.com — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 07:00:00 +0100

(NaturalNews) According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), prescription drugs kill about 40,000 Americans each year and over the counter drugs (OTC) -- from pain relievers to cough medicines -- cause thousands of additional deaths. Drugs can sicken, and sometimes kill, through side effects, allergic reactions, overdoses and interactions. And now there's another reason to worry about pills you put in your body. A recent recall of the OTC pain reliever TYLENOL Arthritis Pain Caplets has revealed that drugs can be contaminated with mold and chemicals when they are transported and stored on "engineered wood" pallets.In consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), McNeil Consumer Healthcare (a division of Big Pharma's Johnson and Johnson) recently expande...

The maverick bacterium

The Scientist — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Listeria makes up its own rules for survival (Source: The Scientist)

Single chain variable fragment antibodies selected by phage display against the sporozoite surface antigen s16 of cryptosporidium parvum.

Experimental Parasitology — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Boulter-Bitzer JI, Lee H, Trevors JT Two human single chain variable fragment (scFv) libraries were used to select clones that bound to the surface glycoprotein S16 of Cryptosporidium parvum. Panning of the Tomlinson libraries I and J resulted in the isolation of nine distinct clones. Of the four clones which had full-length scFv, three contained stop codons. The remaining five clones were truncated, with four missing the heavy chain, and one missing most of the light chain. The full-length clones exhibited better binding to native C. parvum proteins and recombinant S16 than the truncated clones, with the exception of one truncated clone. None of the selected clones cross-reacted with Giardia lamblia, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pyogenes, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus c...

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Recall issued for salad mix over possible contamination

CTV Health — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 13:16:14 +0100

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has recalled Compliments brand Italian Blend salad mix because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled product is sold in 284-gram packages with a best-before date of January 18th. (Source: CTV Health)

Parkers Farm, Inc. Expands Recall to Include All of Its Products, Regardless of Code Dates, Because of Possible Health Risk

Food and Drug Administration — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:59:00 +0100

PARKERS FARM, INC. OF COON RAPIDS, MINNESOTA TODAY EXPANDED THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED RECALL OF PRODUCTS TO INCLUDE ALL DATE CODES BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE CONTAMINATED WITH LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES, AN ORGANISM WHICH CAN CAUSE SERIOUS AND SOMETIMES FATAL INFECTION IN YOUNG CHILDREN, FRAIL OR ELDERLY PEOPLE, AND OTHERS WITH WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEMS. ALTHOUGH HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS MAY SUFFER ONLY SHORT-TERM SYMPOTMS SUCH AS HIGH FEVER, SEVERE HEADACHE, STIFFNESS, NAUSEA, ABDOMINAL PAIN AND DIARRHEA, LISTERIA INFECTION CAN CAUSE MISCARRIAGES AND STILLBIRTHS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN. (Source: Food and Drug Administration)

Parkers Farm, Inc. Expands Recall to Include All of Its Products, Regardless of Code Dates, Because of Possible Health Risk

Food and Drug Administration — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:59:00 +0100

Isolation, structure elucidation and biological activity of angucycline antibiotics from an epiphytic yew streptomycete

Journal of Basic Microbiology — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In the course of study of epiphytic microorganisms occurring on the surface of roots of Taxus baccata L. a new strain Streptomyces sp. AC113 was isolated. According to 16S ribosomal DNA-based identification the new strain is 99% identical with Streptomyces flavidofuscus. This strain cultivated in an arginine glycerol medium produced three major metabolites identified as (-)-8-O -methyltetrangomycin (1), 8-O -methyltetrangulol (2) and 8-O -methyl-7-deoxo-7-hydroxytetrangomycin (3). The chemical structures of these angucyclines were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR as well as by mass spectrometry. Isolated angucycline metabolites showed significant antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus and Listeria mocytogenes. Cytotoxic activities of compounds 1, 2 and 3 against four cell lines (B16, HT...

Quantitative microbiological risk assessment as a tool to obtain useful information for risk managers - Specific application to Listeria monocytogenes and ready-to-eat meat products.

International Journal of Food Microbiology — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Mataragas M, Zwietering MH, Skandamis PN, Drosinos EH The presence of Listeria monocytogenes in a sliced cooked, cured ham-like meat product was quantitatively assessed. Sliced cooked, cured meat products are considered as high risk products. These ready-to-eat, RTE, products (no special preparation, e.g. thermal treatment, before eating is required), support growth of pathogens (high initial pH=6.2-6.4 and water activity=0.98-0.99) and has a relatively long period of storage at chilled temperatures with a shelf life equal to 60days based on manufacturer's instructions. Therefore, in case of post-process contamination, even with low number of cells, the microorganism is able to reach unacceptable levels at the time of consumption. The aim of this study was to conduct a Quantit...

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Food Recall Hits Big Chain Stores

Medscape Today Headlines — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:09:22 +0100

Listeria contamination was detected in peanut butter, salsa, cheese, and more. WebMD Health News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Heluva Good Recalls Cold Pack Cheese Products Because of Possible Health Risk

Food and Drug Administration — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:04:00 +0100

HP Hood is recalling select Heluva Good branded 8 oz. plastic cup containers of Cold Pack Cheese Food because they may contain Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness and nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. (Source: Food and Drug Administration)

Heluva Good Recalls Cold Pack Cheese Products Because of Possible Health Risk

Food and Drug Administration — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:04:00 +0100

A new antibacterial and antioxidant S07-2 compound produced by Bacillus subtilis B38

FEMS Microbiology Letters — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

An antibacterial compound, S07-2, was purified to homogeneity by hydrophobic interaction, anion exchange, C18 reverse-phase and HS PEG HPLC. The molecular mass of S07-2 was 905.6 Da as determined by MS. The S07-2 compound was resistant to high temperatures (up to 100 °C) and could withstand a wide range of pH from 3 to 10. In addition, its antibacterial activity was preserved after treatment with proteases. Biochemical characterization revealed its cyclic peptide structure. This compound showed a bactericidal effect against important food-spoilage bacteria and food-borne pathogens including Listeria monocytogenes and Enterococcus faecalis with lethal concentration values of 62.5 [mu]g mL[minus]1 and against Salmonella enteritidis at a concentration of 31.25 [mu]g mL[minus]1. However, no c...

Food Recall Hits Big Chain Stores

WebMD Health — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Listeria contamination has led Parkers Farm Inc. to recall peanut butter, cheese, salsa, and other foods from a long list of major food retailers. (Source: WebMD Health)

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Parkers farm, inc. recalls several products because of possible health risk

Food and Drug Administration — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:50:00 +0100

PARKERS FARM, INC. OF COON RAPIDS, MINNESOTA IS RECALLING PRODUCTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE CONTAMINATED WITH LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES, AN ORGANISM WHICH CAN CAUSE SERIOUS AND SOMETIMES FATAL INFECTION IN YOUNG CHILDREN, FRAIL OR ELDERLY PEOPLE, AND OTHERS WITH WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEMS. ALTHOUGH HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS MAY SUFFER ONLY SHORT-TERM SYMPOTMS SUCH AS HIGH FEVER, SEVERE HEADACHE, STIFFNESS, NAUSEA, ABDOMINAL PAIN AND DIARRHEA, LISTERIA INFECTION CAN CAUSE MISCARRIAGES AND STILLBIRTHS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN. NO ILLNESSES HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO DATE IN CONNECTION WITH THIS PROBLEM (Source: Food and Drug Administration)

Parkers Farm, Inc. Recalls Several Products Because of Possible Health Risk

Food and Drug Administration — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:50:00 +0100

The lectin-like domain of TNF protects from Listeriolysin-induced hyperpermeability in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells - a crucial role for Protein Kinase C-alpha inhibition.

Vascular Pharmacology — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Xiong C, Yang G, Kumar S, Aggarwal S, Leustik M, Snead C, Hamacher J, Fischer B, Umapathy NS, Hossain H, Wendel A, Catravas JD, Verin AD, Fulton D, Black SM, Chakraborty T, Lucas R Listeriosis can lead to potentially lethal pulmonary complications in newborns and immune compromised patients, characterized by extensive permeability edema. Listeriolysin (LLO), the main virulence factor of Listeria monocytogenes, induces a dose-dependent hyperpermeability in monolayers of human lung microvascular endothelial cells in vitro. The permeability increasing activity of LLO, which is accompanied by an increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, RhoA activation and myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation, can be completely inhibited by the protein kinase C (PKC) alpha/beta inhib...

Inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes in Skim Milk and Liquid Egg White by Antimicrobial Bottle Coating with Polylactic Acid and Nisin

Journal of Food Science — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This study was to develop an antimicrobial bottle coating method to reduce the risk of outbreaks of human listeriosis caused by contaminated liquid foods. Liquid egg white and skim milk were inoculated with Listeria monocytogenes Scott A and stored in glass jars that were coated with a mixture of polylactic acid (PLA) polymer and nisin. The efficacy of PLA per nisin coating in inactivating L. monocytogenes was investigated at 10 and 4 °C. The pathogen grew well in skim milk without PLA/nisin coating treatments, reaching 8 log CFU/mL after 10 d and then remained constant up to 42 d at 10 °C. The growth of Listeria at 4 °C was slower than that at 10 °C, taking 21 d to obtain 8 log CFU/mL. At both storage temperatures, the PLA coating with 250 mg nisin completely inactivated the cells of ...

Genome organization and characterization of the virulent lactococcal phage 1358 and its similarities with Listeria phages.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Dupuis ME, Moineau S The virulent phage 1358 is the reference member of a rare group of phages infecting Lactococcus lactis. Electron microscopy revealed a typical icosahedral capsid connected to one of the smallest non-contractile tails found in a lactococcal phage of the Siphoviridae family. Microbiological characterization identified a burst size of 72 virions released per infected host cell and a latent period of 90 minutes. The host range of phage 1358 was limited to 3 out of the 60 lactococcal strains tested. Moreover, this phage was insensitive to four Abi systems (AbiK, AbiQ, AbiT, and AbiV). The genome of phage 1358 consisted of a linear, double-stranded, 36,892 bp DNA molecule containing 43 orfs. At least, fourteen orfs coded for structural proteins as identified by ...

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Fifteen Percent Of ADXS11-001 Treated Cervix Cancer Patients Still Alive Three Years After Initial Dosing

Cancercompass News: Gynecological Cancer — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The Phase I trial of ADXS11-001, the lead vaccine candidate of Advaxis, Inc., the company that pioneered the live, attenuated Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) vaccine, has shown thirty-six (36) month survival in two (2) of the thirteen (13) evaluable patients treated with Advaxis' therapeutic cancer vaccine, indicating the possibility of persistent immune protection, from only a two (2) dose initial regimen. (Source: Cancercompass News: Gynecological Cancer)

Identification of the major PEP-phosphotransferase systems (PTS) for glucose, mannose and cellobiose of Listeria monocytogenes and their significance for extra-and intracellular growth.

Microbiology — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In this report we studied the PEP-dependent phosphotransferase systems (PTS) of Listeria monocytogenes EGD-e, especially those involved in glucose and cellobiose transport. This Listeria monocytogenes strain possesses in total 86 pts genes encoding 29 complete PTS for the transport of carbohydrates and sugar alcohols and several single PTS components, possibly supporting transport of these compounds. By a systematic deletion analysis we identified the major PTS involved in glucose, mannose and cellobiose transport, when L. monocytogenes grows in a defined minimal medium in the presence of either of these carbohydrates. Whereas all four PTS permeases belonging to the PTSMan family may be involved in mannose transport, only two of those (PTSMan-2 and PTSMan-3), but in addition at least one (...

Sugar fatty acid esters inhibit biofilm formation by food-borne pathogenic bacteria.

International Journal of Food Microbiology — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Furukawa S, Akiyoshi Y, O'Toole GA, Ogihara H, Morinaga Y Effects of food additives on biofilm formation by food-borne pathogenic bacteria were investigated. Thirty-three potential food additives and 3 related compounds were added to the culture medium at concentrations from 0.001 to 0.1% (w/w), followed by inoculation and cultivation of five biofilm-forming bacterial strains for the evaluation of biofilm formation. Among the tested food additives, 21 showed inhibitory effects of biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and in particular, sugar fatty acid esters showed significant anti-biofilm activity. Sugar fatty acid esters with long chain fatty acid residues (C14-16) exerted their inhibitory effect at the concentration of 0.001% (w/w), but bacterial...

Meat recall expanded over listeria fears

CBC | Health — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:57:29 +0100

A Montreal meat processor has expanded a recall of several deli products over fears they could be contaminated by listeria. (Source: CBC | Health)

Active Packaging of Fresh Chicken Breast, with Allyl Isothiocyanate (AITC) in Combination with Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) to Control the Growth of Pathogens

Journal of Food Science — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella typhimurium are major bacterial pathogens associated with poultry products. Ally isothiocyanate (AITC), a natural antimicrobial compound, is reportedly effective against these pathogenic organisms. A device was designed for the controlled release of AITC with modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), and then evaluated for its ability to control the growth of L. monocytogenes and S. typhimurium on raw chicken breast during refrigerated storage. In order to obtain controlled release during the test period, a glass vial was filled with AITC and triglyceride. It was then sealed using high-density polyethylene film. The release of AITC was controlled by the concentration (mole fraction) of AITC in the triglyceride and by the AITC vapor permeability through the ...

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FDA Takes Action Against New Jersey Cheese Manufacturer

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:00:00 +0100

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced intentions to ask a federal court to shut down a New Jersey cheese manufacturer with an alleged history of operating under insanitary conditions and producing cheese contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint for permanent injunction against Quesos Mi Pueblito and two of its officers, Felix Sanchez and Jesus Galvez... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

FDA Takes Action Against New Jersey Cheese Manufacturer

Nutrition/Agriculture News From Medical News Today — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:00:00 +0100

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced intentions to ask a federal court to shut down a New Jersey cheese manufacturer with an alleged history of operating under insanitary conditions and producing cheese contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The U.S... (Source: Nutrition/Agriculture News From Medical News Today)

Fifteen Percent Of ADXS11-001 Treated Cervix Cancer Patients Still Alive Three Years After Initial Dosing

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 08:00:00 +0100

The Phase I trial of ADXS11-001, the lead vaccine candidate of Advaxis, Inc., (OTCBB: ADXS), the company that pioneered the live, attenuated Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) vaccine, has shown thirty-six (36) month survival in two (2) of the thirteen (13) evaluable patients treated with Advaxis' therapeutic cancer vaccine, indicating the possibility of persistent immune protection, from only a two (2) dose initial regimen... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Airline Caterer Flunks Federal Inspection

Health News: CBSNews.com — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:19:04 +0100

Roaches, Listeria Found in Facility that Prepares Food for Several Major U.S. Airlines (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)

FDA Takes Action Against New Jersey Cheese Manufacturer

Food and Drug Administration — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:29:00 +0100

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced intentions to ask a federal court to shut down a New Jersey cheese manufacturer with an alleged history of operating under insanitary conditions and producing cheese contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. (Source: Food and Drug Administration)

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Synergistic effects of sodium chloride, glucose, and temperature on biofilm formation by Listeria monocytogenes serotype 1/2a strains and 4b strains.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Pan Y, Breidt F, Gorski L Biofilm formation by Listeria monocytogenes is generally associated with its persistence in the food processing environment. Serotype 1/2a strains make up more than 50% of the total isolates recovered from food and environment, while serotype 4b strains are most often associated with major outbreaks of human listeriosis. Using a microplate assay with crystal violet staining, we examined biofilm formation by 18 strains of each serotype in tryptic soy broth with varying concentrations of glucose (from 0.25% to 10.0%, w/v), sodium chloride (from 0.5% to 7.0%, w/v) and ethanol (from 1% to 5.0%, v/v), and at different temperatures (22.5 degrees C, 30 degrees C, and 37 degrees C). A synergistic effect on biofilm formation was observed for glucose, sodium ch...

Influence of Fatty Acid Precursors, Including Food Preservatives, on the Growth and Fatty Acid Composition of Listeria monocytogenes at 37 and 10{degrees}C.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Julotok M, Singh AK, Gatto C, Wilkinson BJ Listeria monocytogenes is a food borne pathogen that grows at refrigeration temperatures and increases its content of fatty acid anteiso C15:0 at these temperatures, which is believed to be a homeoviscous adaptation to ensure membrane fluidity. As a possible novel approach for control of the growth of the organism the influence of various fatty acid precursors, including branched-chain amino acids and branched- and straight-chain carboxylic acids, some of which are also well-established food preservatives, on the growth and fatty acid composition of the organism at 37 degrees C and 10 degrees C were studied to investigate whether the organism could be made to synthesize a fatty acid composition that would result in impaired growth at ...

Unusual presentation of tuberculosis in an infliximab-treated patient – which is the correct TB screening before starting a biologic?

Dermatologic Therapy — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

We report the case of a psoriatic patient, who, despite a negative screening for infection by M. tuberculosis including both tuberculin skin test (TST) and chest X-ray, developed after 4 months of infliximab treatment, a severe pulmonary, lymphnodal and intestinal tuberculosis during infliximab treatment. (Source: Dermatologic Therapy)

Deep RNA sequencing of L. monocytogenes reveals overlapping and extensive stationary phase and sigma B-dependent transcriptomes, including multiple highly transcribed noncoding RNAs

BioMed Central — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: The results from these studies provide powerful evidence that RNA-Seq data combined with appropriate bioinformatics tools allow quantitative characterization of prokaryotic transcriptomes, thus providing exciting new strategies for exploring transcriptional regulatory networks in bacteria.See minireivew http://jbiol.com/content/8/12/107. (Source: BioMed Central)

The bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes: an emerging model in prokaryotic transcriptomics

Journal of Biology — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

A major challenge in bacterial pathogenesis is understanding the molecular basis of the switch from saprophytism to virulence. Following a recent whole-genome transcriptomic analysis using tiling arrays, an article published in BMC Genomics reports the first use of RNA-seq in Listeria monocytogenes in order to identify genes controlled by sigma B, a transcriptional regulator with a critical role in virulence.See research article http://biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/10/641 (Source: Journal of Biology)

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Adiponectin is required for enhancement of CCL2 expression in adipose tissue during Listeria monocytogenes infection.

Cytokine — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Sashinami H, Nakane A Obesity is an important background of metabolic syndrome progression. Our previous study demonstrated that chemokine CCL2 expression was suppressed in liver of obese mice that were highly susceptible to Listeria monocytogenes infection. We investigated the role of adiponectin in CCL2 expression in obese mice after L. monocytogenes infection. When leptin-deficient obese ob/ob mice were infected intraperitoneally with L. monocytogenes, the elimination of bacteria from spleen, liver, mesenteric lymph nodes and adipose tissue was inhibited in ob/ob mice compared with their heterozygote littermates, ob/? mice. CCL2 expression in the adipose tissue of ob/? mice was enhanced by L. monocytogenes infection, different from ob/ob mice. Similarly, adiponectin express...

Antimicrobial compounds produced by Lactobacillus sakei subsp. sakei 2a, a bacteriocinogenic strain isolated from a Brazilian meat product.

Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

In this study, a concentrated acid extract of a culture of Lactobacillus sakei subsp. sakei 2a, a bacteriocinogenic strain isolated from a Brazilian pork product, was purified by cation exchange and reversed-phase chromatographic methods. The amino acid sequences of the active antimicrobial compounds determined by Edman degradation were compared to known protein sequences using the BLAST-P software. Three different antimicrobial compounds were obtained, P1, P2 and P3, and mass spectrometry indicated molecular masses of 4.4, 6.8 and 9.5 kDa, respectively. P1 corresponds to classical sakacin P, P2 is identical to the 30S ribosomal protein S21 of L. sakei subsp. sakei 23 K, and P3 is identical to a histone-like DNA-binding protein HV produced by L. sakei subsp. sakei 23 K. Total genomic DNA w...

Human Listeriosis Caused by Listeria ivanovii.

Emerging Infectious Diseases — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 06:51:03 +0100

We report L. ivanovii-associated gastroenteritis and bacteremia in a man. This isolate was indistinguishable from prototypic ruminant strains. L. ivanovii is thus an enteric opportunistic human pathogen. PMID: 20031061 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases)

Inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes infection by neurological drugs

International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

In this report, a small molecule library enriched for compounds affecting neurological functions was screened and 68 compounds that disrupted L. monocytogenes infection of macrophages were identified. Many of these compounds were known antimicrobial agents, however 26 compounds were novel inhibitors of intracellular infection. Two of the compounds chosen for further study, the antipsychotic drug thioridazine and the calcium channel blocker bepridil, exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of vacuolar escape and intracellular replication of L. monocytogenes during infection of murine macrophages. These results suggest that clinically approved neurological drugs may provide a novel source of anti-infective agents that are suitable for development as therapeutics against intracellular bacterial i...

Surveillance for Foodborne Disease Outbreaks—United States, 2006

Annals of Emergency Medicine — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:07:48 +0100

This report summarizes epidemiologic data on FBDOs reported during 2006 (the most recent year for which data have been analyzed). A total of 1,270 FBDOs were reported, resulting in 27,634 cases and 11 deaths. Among the 624 FBDOs with a confirmed cause, norovirus was the most common cause, accounting for 54% of outbreaks and 11,879 cases, followed by Salmonella (18% of outbreaks and 3,252 cases). Among the 11 reported deaths, 10 were attributed to bacterial causes (6 Escherichia coli O157:H7, 2 Listeria monocytogenes, 1 Salmonella serotype enteritidis, and 1 Clostridium botulinum), and 1 was attributed to a chemical (mushroom toxin). Among outbreaks caused by a single food vehicle, the most common food commodities to which outbreak-related cases were attributed were poultry (21%), leafy veg...

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Olymel deli meats recalled over listeria risks

CBC | Health — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:10:04 +0100

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to consume some ready-to-eat deli meats made by Olymel as they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. (Source: CBC | Health)

Deli meats recalled over possible Listeria contamination

CTV Health — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:19:31 +0100

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the manufacturer are warning the public not to consume some ready-to-eat deli meats from Olymel as they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. (Source: CTV Health)

Constitutive Activation of Wnt Signaling Favors Generation of Memory CD8 T Cells.

Journal of Immunology — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

In this study, we demonstrate that, like IL-7Ralpha and CD62L, TCF-1 and lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1 exhibit dynamic expression changes during T cell responses, being highly expressed in naive T cells, downregulated in effector T cells, and upregulated again in memory T cells. Enforced expression of a p45 TCF-1 isoform limited the expansion of Ag-specific CD8 T cells in response to Listeria monocytogenes infection. However, when the p45 transgene was coupled with ectopic expression of stabilized beta-catenin, more Ag-specific memory CD8 T cells were generated, with enhanced ability to produce IL-2. Moreover, these memory CD8 T cells expanded to a larger number of secondary effectors and cleared bacteria faster when the immunized mice were rechallenged with virulent L. monocytogenes....

Naturally Occurring Altered Peptide Ligands Control Salmonella-Specific CD4+ T Cell Proliferation, IFN-{gamma} Production, and Protective Potency.

Journal of Immunology — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

In this study, altered peptide ligands (APLs) derived from the protective Salmonella-specific FliC Ag and CD4(+) T cells specific for the immune-dominant FliC(431-439) peptide within this Ag were used to determine how changes in TCR stimulation impact CD4(+) T cell proliferation, differentiation, and protective potency. To explore the prevalence and potential use of altered TCR stimulation by bacterial pathogens, naturally occurring APLs containing single amino acid substitutions in putative TCR contact residues within the FliC(431-439) peptide were identified and used for stimulation under both noninfection and infection conditions. On the basis of this analysis, naturally-occurring APLs that prime proliferation of FliC-specific CD4(+) T cells either more potently or less potently compare...

CEM-101, a novel fluoroketolide: antimicrobial activity against a diverse collection of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria

Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

In this study, CEM-101 and comparator antimicrobials were tested against a collection of very low prevalence aerobic and anaerobic bacteria collected via the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program platform. CEM-101 was highly active against all Gram-positive organisms (MIC50, 0.015 μg/mL) as compared with telithromycin (MIC50, 0.06 μg/mL), clarithromycin (MIC50, 0.12 μg/mL), and erythromycin (MIC50, 0.25 μg/mL). Among Gram-negative pathogens, CEM-101 also displayed a high potency against most strains (MIC50, 4 μg/mL) but was found to be equivalent or less active when compared with other antimicrobials tested with MIC50 values ranging from ≤0.12 μg/mL for levofloxacin to 8 μg/mL for telithromycin. Among the strict anaerobic species, CEM-101 activity mirrored that of the aerobic ...

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Innate IFN-γ Production by Subsets of Natural Killer Cells, Natural Killer T Cells and γδ T Cells in Response to Dying Bacterial-Infected Macrophages

Scandinavian Journal of Immunology — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

In this study, we showed that cell death of bone-marrow-derived macrophage (BMM) cells following in vitro infection with Staphylococcus aureus (SA), an extracellular bacterium, can also stimulate this IFN-[gamma] production pathway. We also unequivocally demonstrated by using BMM cells from IL-12-deficient mice that the bacterial-infected macrophage cell death-mediated IFN-[gamma] production can occur without IL-12 although the magnitude of the response is much smaller than that in the presence of IL-12. The enhancing effect of IL-12 on this response proved to be attributable to the negligible amounts (0.5[sim]1.5 pg/ml) of IL-12p70 but not to the large amounts of IL-12p40 that were both secreted by SA- and LM-infected macrophages. Taken all together, we propose that macrophage cell death ...

Advaxis Announces Phase II Trial Collaboration With The National Cancer Institute

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:00:00 +0100

Advaxis, Inc., (OTCBB: ADXS), the live, attenuated Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) vaccine company, will collaborate with the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG), a collaborative research group of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), in a multicenter, Phase II clinical trial of the Company's lead drug candidate, ADXS11-001 in the treatment of advanced cervix cancer in women who have failed prior cytotoxic therapy. This Phase II trial will be conducted by GOG investigators and largely underwritten by the NCI... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Ham sausage products may be contaminated with Listeria

CTV Health — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:25:08 +0100

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Superior Sausage and Meat Products Ltd. are warning the public not to consume certain ham sausages sold in Ontario. (Source: CTV Health)

The Combination of Energy-Dependent Internal Adaptation Mechanisms and External Factors Enables Listeria monocytogenes to Express a Strong Starvation Survival Response During Multiple-Nutrient Starvation

Foodborne Pathogens and Disease — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:21:15 +0100

Foodborne Pathogens and Disease , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Foodborne Pathogens and Disease)

Application of Gelidium corneum Edible Films Containing Carvacrol for Ham Packages

Journal of Food Science — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

We prepared an edible film of Gelidium corneum (GC) containing carvacrol as an antimicrobial and antioxidative agent. The GC film containing carvacrol significantly decreased the WVP, while TS and %E values were increased, compared to the film without carvacrol. Increasing amounts of an antimicrobial agent increased antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes. Application of the film to ham packaging successfully inhibited the microbial growth and lipid oxidation of ham during storage. Our results indicate that GC film can be a useful edible packaging material for food products, and the incorporation of carvacrol in the GC film may extend the shelf life. (Source: Journal of Food Science)

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Hydrophobization and Antimicrobial Activity of Chitosan and Paper-Based Packaging Material.

Biomacromolecules — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

This study reports the elaboration of water-resistant, antimicrobial, chitosan and paper-based materials as environmentally friendly food packaging materials. Two types of papers were coated with chitosan-palmitic acid emulsions or with a blend of chitosan and O,O'-dipalmitoylchitosan (DPCT). Micromorphology studies showed that inclusion of hydrophobic compounds into the chitosan matrix was enhanced by grafting them onto chitosan and that this led to their penetration of the paper's core. Compared to chitosan-coated papers, the coating of chitosan-palmitic emulsion kept vapor-barrier properties unchanged (239 and 170 g.m(-2).d(-1) versus 241 and 161 g.m(-2).d(-1)), while the coating of chitosan-DPCT emulsion dramatically deteriorated them (441 and 442 g.m(-2).d(-1)). However, contact angle...

Reduction of Listeria monocytogenes on the Surface of Fresh Channel Catfish Fillets by Bacteriophage Listex P100

Foodborne Pathogens and Disease — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:42:32 +0100

Foodborne Pathogens and Disease , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Foodborne Pathogens and Disease)

Antilisterial Activity of a Broad-Spectrum Bacteriocin, Enterocin LR/6 from Enterococcus faecium LR/6.

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Kumar M, Srivastava S Enterocin LR/6, a purified bacteriocin, exhibited broad inhibitory spectrum both against related as well as some food-borne pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes, Yersinia enterocolitica, Aeromonas sp., Shigella sp., and Bacillus licheniformis. In this investigation, we have focused on L. monocytogenes as the target organism, as it is not only an important pathogen but can also survive over a wide range of environmental conditions such as refrigeration temperature, low pH, and high-salt concentration. This allows the pathogen to overcome many food preservation and safety barriers and poses a potential risk to human health. The enterocin LR/6 showed a bactericidal action against L. monocytogenes and completely inhibited the growth on agar plates, supple...

PKCθ is required for alloreactivity and GVHD but not for immune responses toward leukemia and infection in mice

Journal of Clinical Investigation — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:58:54 +0100

When used as therapy for hematopoietic malignancies, allogeneic BM transplantation (BMT) relies on the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect to eradicate residual tumor cells through immunologic mechanisms. However, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), which is initiated by alloreactive donor T cells that recognize mismatched major and/or minor histocompatibility antigens and cause severe damage to hematopoietic and epithelial tissues, is a potentially lethal complication of allogeneic BMT. To enhance the therapeutic potential of BMT, we sought to find therapeutic targets that could inhibit GVHD while preserving GVL and immune responses to infectious agents. We show here that T cell responses triggered in mice by either Listeria monocytogenes or administration of antigen and adjuvant were relati...

Abstract C58: IL-1 receptor regulates calprotectin-dependent accumulation of pathogenic bacteria in oral carcinoma

Cancer Research — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:15:36 +0100

The oral epithelium represents the mucosal immune system's initial line of defense against invasive bacterial and viral pathogens. Invasion of bacterial pathogens into oral epithelial cells increases expression of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1 (IL-1). Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) express more IL-1 and have greater numbers of colonizing bacteria than normal oral tissues. Previously, we showed that exogenous IL-1 induces expression of antimicrobial proteins (AMP), including calprotectin, a heterodimer of S100A8 and S100A9 and increases IL-1 receptor-dependent resistance of buccal carcinoma cells to the invasive bacterial pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes. Since S100A9 is down-regulated in HNSCC, we knocked down calprotectin using siRNA against S100A8 and S1...

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It Takes 2 To Infect - Structural Biologists Shed Light On Mechanism Of Invasion Protein

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0100

Two so-called invasion proteins are crucial for infection. Each binds a specific receptor on the surface of human cells, which stimulates the host cell to take up the pathogen. Normally, these receptor molecules exert a different function, for example the regulation of cell growth and wound healing. The group's results have now been published in the current issue of the Journal of Molecular Biology. Spoiled meat is one of the sources for Listeria infections leading to listeriosis... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

It takes two to infect: Structural biologists shed light on mechanism of invasion protein

ScienceDaily Headlines — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:00:00 +0100

Bacteria are quite creative when infecting the human organism. They invade cells, migrate through the body, avoid an immune response and misuse processes of the host cell for their own purposes. Structural biologists have now elucidated one mechanism of Listeria bacteria. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

Antigen-specific CD8+T cell response are reduced by chronic ethanol and by TLR agonists: CD8+T cell alterations

Alcohol — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

We have shown previously that chronic ethanol consumption by mice results in significantly reduced antigen-specific CD8+ T cell primary responses following attenuated Listeria monocytogenes (actA- LM) inoculation. This reduction is consistent across several epitopes and is accompanied by T cell alterations. CD8+ T cells from the ethanol mice have reduced expression of IL2Rβ, and reduced expression of the activation markers KLRG1 and NKG2D. Because chronic ethanol consumption leads to increased intestinal translocation of bacterial products such as the toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and peptidoglycan (PGN), we have also evaluated administration of TLR2 and TLR4 agonists to normal control and ethanol mice. Total splenocyte numbers in TLR2 agonist (PAM3CSK4) injec...

Survey of Listeria monocytogenes and other Listeria sp. contamination in different common ready-to-eat food products in Jordan.

Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences: PJBS — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Awaisheh SS Incidence and contamination levels of different Listeria monocytogenes serovars and different Listeria sp. in 360 samples of common ready-to-eat food products in Jordan were investigated. The presence of L. monocytogenes was determined using EN ISO protocol and confirmed using PCR technique. Five Listeria sp.: L. monocytogenes, L. innocua, L. ivanovvi, L. welshimeri and L. seeligeri were isolated. L. monocytogenes was isolated from 19 samples (5.3%), from 6 RTE dairy samples; 6 RTE vegetables samples and 4 traditional dishes samples and 3 miscellaneous samples. L. innocua and L. ivanovvi were the most and least frequently isolated species, 24 and 3 samples, respectively. L. welshimeri was isolated from 8 samples and L. seeligeri from 7 samples. The contamination le...

Fulminant prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by Listeria monocytogenes [Images in cardio-thoracic surgery]

European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:37:41 +0100

(Source: European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery)

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It takes 2 to infect

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0100

(Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres) Bacteria are quite creative when infecting the human organism. They invade cells, migrate through the body, avoid an immune response and misuse processes of the host cell for their own purposes. To this end every bacterium employs its own strategy. In collaboration with a British research group, structural biologists from the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research in Braunschweig, Germany, and the University of Bielefeld, Germany, have now elucidated one mechanism of Listeria bacteria. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

Diverse cadmium resistance determinants in Listeria monocytogenes from the environment of turkey processing plants.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Mullapudi S, Siletzky RM, Kathariou S Two different cadA cadmium resistance determinants ("cadA1", first identified in Tn5422, and "cadA2", associated with pLM80) were detected among cadmium-resistant Listeria monocytogenes strains from turkey processing plants. Prevalence of cadA1 vs. cadA2 was serotype-associated. Cadmium-resistant isolates that were also resistant to benzalkonium chloride (BC) were more likely to harbor cadA2 alone, or together with cadA1, than those that were cadmium-resistant but BC-susceptible. PMID: 19948870 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Applied and Environmental Microbiology)

The retention of bacteria on hygienic surfaces presenting scratches of microbial dimensions

Letters in Applied Microbiology — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: The dimensions of surface features may enhance or impede cell retention. This phenomenon is also related to the size and shape of the microbial cell.Significance and Impact of Study: Findings may help describe and evaluate properties of hygienic and easily cleanable surfaces. (Source: Letters in Applied Microbiology)

Galectin-3, a marker for vacuole lysis by invasive pathogens

Cellular Microbiology — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Shigella bacteria invade macrophages and epithelial cells and following internalization lyse the phagosome and escape to the cytoplasm. Galectin-3, an abundant protein in macrophages and epithelial cells, belongs to a family of beta-galactoside-binding proteins, the galectins, with many proposed functions in immune response, development, differentiation, cancer and infection. Galectins are synthesized as cytosolic proteins and following non-classical secretion bind extracellular beta-galactosides. Here we analysed the localization of galectin-3 following entry of Shigella into the cytosol and detected a striking phenomenon. Very shortly after bacterial invasion, intracellular galectin-3 accumulated in structures in vicinity to internalized bacteria. By using immuno-electron microscopy anal...