Listeria monocytogenes cell-to-cell spread in epithelia is heterogeneous and dominated by rare pioneer bacteria

• DOI: 10.7554/elife.40032
• Publication Date: 2019-02-05T00:02:23Z
• Authors: Fabian E Ortega; Elena F Koslover; Julie A Theriot
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Biomedical and clinical sciences; QH301-705.5; infectious disease; Science; Population; Microbiology; cell-to-cell spread; Exocytosis; actin-based motility; Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells; 03 medical and health sciences; Dogs; epithelial monolayer; cell biology; 2.2 Factors relating to the physical environment; Animals; Aetiology; Biology (General); Microscopy; 0303 health sciences; microbiology; Q; R; Biological Variation; Health sciences; Epithelial Cells; Cell Biology; Biological Sciences; Foodborne Illness; Listeria monocytogenes; Endocytosis; 3. Good health; Biological sciences; Emerging Infectious Diseases; Infectious Diseases; Biological Variation, Population; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Medicine; Biochemistry and Cell Biology; Digestive Diseases; Infection; Locomotion

Listeria monocytogenes hijacks host actin to promote its intracellular motility and intercellular spread. While L. virulence hinges on cell-to-cell spread, little is known about the dynamics of bacterial spread in epithelia at a population level. Here, we use live microscopy statistical modeling demonstrate that proceeds anisotropically an epithelial monolayer culture. We show boundaries infection foci are irregular dominated by rare pioneer bacteria farther than rest. extend our quantitative model for heterogeneous spreading behavior can improve chances creating persistent actively extruding epithelium. Thus, results indicate heterogeneous, determine frontier may persistence dynamic epithelia. Editorial note: This article has been through editorial process which authors decide how respond issues raised during peer review. The Reviewing Editor's assessment all have addressed (<xref ref-type="decision-letter" rid="SA1">see decision letter</xref>).