Open AccessFlick of a switch: regulatory mechanisms allowing Listeria monocytogenes to transition from a saprophyte to a killer
Author(s) -
Teresa Tiensuu,
Duarte Guerreiro,
Ana H. Oliveira,
Conor O’Byrne,
Jörgen Johansson
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1465-2080
pISSN - 1350-0872
DOI - 10.1099/mic.0.000808
Subject(s) - listeria monocytogenes , obligate , biology , pathogen , host (biology) , niche , intracellular parasite , microbiology and biotechnology , intracellular , bacteria , genetics , ecology
In contrast to obligate intracellular pathogens that can remain in relatively stable host-associated environments, the soil-living bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes has to sense and respond to physical and chemical cues in a variety of quite different niches. In particular, the bacterium has to survive the dramatic transition from its saprophytic existence to life within the host where nutritional stress, increased temperature, acidity, osmotic stress and the host defences present a new and challenging landscape. This review focuses on the σ B and PrfA regulatory systems used by L. monocytogenes to sense the changing environment and implement survival mechanisms that help to overcome the disparate conditions within the host, but also to switch from a harmless saprophyte to an impressively effective pathogen.