Listeria monocytogenes-Infected Phagocytes Can Initiate Central Nervous System Infection in Mice

• DOI: 10.1128/iai.69.3.1344-1350.2001
• Publication Date: 2002-07-27T10:01:19Z
• Authors: Douglas A. Drevets; Todd A. Jelinek; Nancy E. Freitag
• Keywords: Intracellular parasite

ABSTRACT Listeria monocytogenes -infected phagocytes are present in the bloodstream of experimentally infected mice, but whether they play a role central nervous system (CNS) invasion is unclear. To test bacteria within leukocytes could establish CNS infection, mice were treated with gentamicin delivered by surgically implanted osmotic pumps. Bacterial inhibitory titers serum and plasma ranged from 1:16 to 1:256, essentially all viable leukocyte associated. Nevertheless, infection developed gentamicin-treated animals intraperitoneally or gastric lavage, suggesting that intracellular be responsible for neuroinvasion. This was supported data showing 43.5% found blood some colocalized F-actin, indicating productive parasitism. Experiments using an L. strain containing chromosomal actA-gfpuv-plcB transcriptional fusion showed associated extracellularly bound green fluorescent protein-expressing (GFP + ) bacteria. Treatment decreased numbers GFP significantly did not affect bacteria, latter result intercellular spread leukocytes. These demonstrate harbored them key roles Moreover, suggest recruited organs such as liver spleen themselves parasitized then reenter contribute systemic dissemination