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Hot water extracts of Chlorella vulgaris reduce opportunistic infection with Listeria monocytogenes in C57BL/6 mice infected with LP-BM5 murine leukemia viruses.

The bacterial elimination after infection with Listeria monocytogenes was impaired in mice with murine acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (MAIDS) by infection with LP-BM5 murine leukemia virus. Oral administration of hot water extracts of Chlorella vulgaris (CVE) restored the capacity of MAIDS mice to eliminate L. monocytogenes in association with improvement of the deteriorated immune response to L. monocytogenes. DTH response to Listeria in CVE-treated MAIDS mice was significantly higher than that of MAIDS mice after Listeria infection in association with increases in number of CD4+CD8- and CD4-CD8+ alpha beta T-cells in the infected sites. CVE might be effective in the treatment of opportunistic infection in retrovirus-induced immunodeficient patients.

Animals↗

Activation of host phospholipases C and D in macrophages after infection with Listeria monocytogenes.

Infection of the J774 murine macrophage-derived cell line with Listeria monocytogenes results in several elevations of intracellular calcium during the first 15 min of infection. These appear to result from the actions of secreted bacterial proteins, including phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC), a broad-range phospholipase C, and listeriolysin O (LLO) (S. J. Wadsworth and H. Goldfine, Infect. Immun. 67:1770-1778, 1999). We have measured hydrolysis of host PI and the activation of host polyphosphoinositide-specific PLC and host phospholipase D (PLD) during infection with wild-type and mutant L. monocytogenes. Elevated hydrolysis of host PI occurred within the first 10 min of infection and was dependent on both bacterial PI-PLC and LLO, both of which were required for the earliest elevations of intracellular calcium in the host cell. A more rapid hydrolysis of host PI was observed at 30 min after infection, at the time when wild-type bacteria have been internalized. Activation of host PLC, also occurred in the first 10 min of infection but was not dependent on the presence of bacterial PI-PLC. Similar observations were made in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages. In J774 cells, activation of host PLD was observed after 20 min of infection and was dependent on bacterial LLO. Mutants in the bacterial phospholipases produced levels of PLD activation similar to those produced by the wild type. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) also activated host PLD, while long-term treatment with PMA resulted in loss of the ability of L. monocytogenes to activate host PLD, suggesting an involvement of protein kinase C (PKC) in the activation of PLD. Rottlerin, an inhibitor of PKC delta in J774 cells, also inhibited the activation of PLD, but hispidin, an inhibitor of PKC betaI and betaII, did not. Pretreatment of J774 cells with the PLD inhibitor, 2, 3-diphosphoglycerate partially inhibited escape of the bacteria from the primary phagocytic vacuole.

2,3-Diphosphoglycerate↗

Toll-like receptor 2 is required for optimal control of Listeria monocytogenes infection.

The control of Listeria monocytogenes infection depends on the rapid activation of the innate immune system, likely through Toll-like receptors (TLR), since mice deficient for the common adapter protein of TLR signaling, myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), succumb to Listeria infection. In order to test whether TLR2 is involved in the control of infections, we compared the host response in TLR2-deficient mice with that in wild-type mice. Here we show that TLR2-deficient mice are more susceptible to systemic infection by Listeria than are wild-type mice, with a reduced survival rate, increased bacterial burden in the liver, and abundant and larger hepatic microabscesses containing increased numbers of neutrophils. The production of tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-12, and nitric oxide and the expression of the costimulatory molecules CD40 and CD86, which are necessary for the control of infection, were reduced in TLR2-deficient macrophages and dendritic cells stimulated by Listeria and were almost abolished in the absence of MyD88, coincident with the high susceptibility of MyD88-deficient mice to in vivo infection. Therefore, the present data demonstrate a role for TLR2 in the control of Listeria infection, but other MyD88-dependent signals may contribute to host resistance.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Effect of Listeria monocytogenes infection on serum levels of colony-stimulating factor and number of progenitor cells in immune and nonimmune mice.

Studies were performed to determine changes in serum macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) levels and the number of macrophage progenitor cells in bone marrow and spleens of nonimmune and immune mice infected with Listeria monocytogenes. Immunity in mice was established by infecting mice 6 weeks before use with a sublethal dose of L. monocytogenes. When challenged with 10(4) L. monocytogenes organisms, immune mice had an early (12 h) peak in M-CSF serum concentrations. Levels remained elevated for 24 h but fell towards normal by 48 h. By contrast, M-CSF levels in nonimmune mice did not rise until 24 h after challenge, remained elevated for 7 days, and returned to normal by 14 days. The number of macrophage progenitor cells in the bone marrow of immune mice rose slightly during infection, whereas the number in nonimmune mice fell significantly by days 4 and 7. Progenitor cells in spleens of immune mice more than doubled during infection; in nonimmune mice, a sixfold increase was noted. These results indicate that important parameters of monocyte production differ in immune and nonimmune mice during listeria infection and suggest a possible mechanism for differences in resistance to infection.

Animals↗

Mechanisms of pathogenesis in Listeria monocytogenes infection. 3. Carbohydrate metabolism.

Several enzymes and metabolites concerned with carbohydrate metabolism were examined in mice infected with Listeria monocytogenes. Liver glycogen and glucose decreased parallel to severity of infection. The concentration of glucose in the blood fell to abnormally low levels with a hypoglycemia being most evident at 72 hr. There was a significant decrease in the activity of hepatic uridine diphosphate glucose-glycogen transglucosylase. This decrease in enzymatic activity correlated with the rate of glycogen depletion. Phosphorylase activity declined in a similar fashion, contraindicating enhanced glycogenolysis as the mechanism responsible for glycogen depletion. Although glucose-6-phosphatase decreased throughout the infection period, it did not appear to be the major metabolic defect causing hypoglycemia in Listeria-infected mice. Further distortion of carbohydrate metabolism was indicated by findings of increased levels of pyruvate and lactate in the blood of infected animals.

Animals↗

Listeria monocytogenes infection in caspase-11-deficient mice.

Caspase-11 (Cas11) is a cysteine protease involved in programmed cell death and cytokine maturation. Through activation of Cas1 (interleukin-1beta [IL-1beta]-converting enzyme), Cas11 is directly involved in the maturation of IL-1beta and IL-18. Apoptosis is mediated through Cas3. Given the role of apoptosis and cytokine signaling during the innate immune response in intracellular infection, we examined Cas11-deficient (Cas11(-/-)) mice during infection with Listeria monocytogenes. Cas11(-/-) and wild-type C57BL/6 mice were equally susceptible to intravenous infection with L. monocytogenes, resulting in similar bacterial burdens in tissue and similar survival rates. By contrast, enhanced susceptibility was observed in control mice on a mixed genetic 129/C57BL/DBA2 background. Cas11(-/-) and wild-type mice infected with Listeria had similar hepatic microabscess formation in terms of histologic appearance, size, and number. Apoptosis of L. monocytogenes-infected hepatocytes in vivo and in vitro in primary culture was not altered by the absence of Cas11. Serum IL-18 and IL-1beta levels were similar in Cas11(-/-) mice and controls. Endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS])-challenged Cas11(-/-) mice were deficient in the production of gamma interferon. IL-1beta responses in Cas11(-/-) were normal with intravenous administration of LPS but decreased with intraperitoneal administration. Our findings suggest that Cas11 deficiency does not impair the immune response to infection with L. monocytogenes. Apoptosis and maturation of IL-18 and IL-1beta were normal despite Cas11 deficiency. LPS-induced proinflammatory pathways are altered by the absence of Cas11. While Cas11-mediated Cas1 and Cas3 activation is crucial for cytokine maturation and apoptosis during inflammation, alternative pathways allow normal inflammatory and apoptotic responses during infection with L. monocytogenes.

Abscess↗

Kinetics of antibody production and clinical profiles of calves experimentally infected with Listeria monocytogenes.

Clinical and serum antibody profiles were studied during oral Listeria monocytogenes infection of calves. No clinical signs, except for pyrexia with mild diarrhoea and staggering gait, were observed in the infected calves. Specific antibodies to listeriolysin O (LLO) appeared as early as day 8 of an oral infection and peaked by days 16-32 of infection. Antibodies to LLO were observed to persist over the period of 126 days observed in the study. LLO being a major virulence factor and capable of inducing a humoral response could therefore be used as an antigen for development of an immunoassay for diagnosis of Listeria monocytogenes infections in animals.

Animals↗

The effect of lead on the bone marrow stem cells of mice infected with Listeria monocytogenes.

We investigated the effects of lead exposure on the growth and differentiation of bone marrow hematopoietic cells, the so called colony-forming cells, in normal and Listeria monocytogenes infected mice (resistant and susceptible strains). We also studied the effects of lead on the serum colony-stimulating activity (CSA), as well as on the survival of the mice after the infection. The doses of lead acetate were 13, 130 and 1300 ppm for 10, 30 and 70 d. At the end of this dosing, mice were infected with Listeria monocytogenes and killed 24, 48 or 72 h after inoculation of the bacteria. A dose-response suppressive effect of lead was observed in both strains in the 3 periods studied. However, in the resistant strain of mice the suppressive effects were overcome 48 h after the administration of the bacteria, whereas in the susceptible mice the suppressive effect of the infection was evident in all 3 time periods. The administration of lead caused no changes in serum hematopoietic growth factors, thus suggesting this metal acts by direct action on the myelopoietic cells. A significant decrease in host resistance, as measured by the mortality rate, was found when both strains of mice were challenged with sub-lethal doses of Listeria monocytogenes. Lethality was determined for a period of 10 d after dosing with 1300 ppm lead for 30 d.

Animals↗

Comparison of three serological methods--enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, complement fixation, and microagglutination--in the diagnosis of human perinatal Listeria monocytogenes infection.

Serological diagnosis of human perinatal infection with Listeria monocytogenes is at present unsatisfactory. Difficulties in performing or interpreting serodiagnostic tests include weak or absent antibody responses to infection and extensive serologic cross-reactions with other organisms. In an attempt to overcome these problems, we developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect IgG (ELISA-G) and IgM (ELISA-M) antibody to L. monocytogenes and compared these tests with microagglutination and complement fixation tests. Studies were done using convalescent sera collected from 29 mothers approximately 1-2 months following recovery from Listeria infection and from 84 matched controls. Whole L. monocytogenes, serotype 4b, was used in the microagglutination and ELISA tests, while a commercial antigen preparation containing both serotype 1a and 4b antigens, was used in the complement fixation test. All tests showed significant differences between cases and controls (p less than 0.0005). The specificity of the tests was similar, ranging from 78% to 91%. However, the sensitivity of each test was more variable ranging from 56% for the microagglutination test to 78% for the ELISA-M. The complement fixation test was better than the other tests with a sensitivity of 78% and a specificity of 91%. The serotype 4b specific antibody response was predominantly of the IgM class based on differential reactivity between serotype 1a and 4b. Although these serologic tests are specific and may be predictive in ruling out infection, their sensitivity is poor and isolation of the organism remains the only method for diagnosing infection.

Agglutination Tests↗

Substantial in vivo proliferation of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes during secondary Listeria monocytogenes infection.

In mice Listeria monocytogenes infection induces a strong T cell response. In an attempt to quantitatively analyze the magnitude and kinetics of the CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell response during L. monocytogenes infection in vivo we used a T cell transfer system that is independent of in vitro cell culture techniques and information about the identity of immunogenic T cell epitopes. Our results demonstrate substantial expansion of the in vivo primed and transferred T cell populations in response to L. monocytogenes. At the peak of response, transferred T cells represented more than one third of the total CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell populations in blood and spleen of recipient mice. After stimulation in vitro, 40 % of these CD4(+) T cells responded to heat-killed listeriae with the production of IFN-gamma. Thus, our results reveal that in addition to the large CD8(+) T cell population an almost equally large population of Listeria-reactive CD4(+) T cells is generated in response to L. monocytogenes infection.

Adoptive Transfer↗

[Listeria monocytogenes infection in children].

Listeria monocytogenes infection is relatively unusual in children. Two cases are reported which illustrate that meningitis and septicemia are the most frequent manifestations at this age. Prognosis is especially bad in immunodeficient patients.

Child, Preschool↗

Requirement of endogenous interferon-gamma production for resolution of Listeria monocytogenes infection.

Peritoneal exudate cells and splenic cells of mice infected with Listeria monocytogenes show increased production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) after antigen or mitogen stimulation. When an IFN-gamma-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used, increased production was first observed 2 days after infection in peritoneal cells and 4 to 6 days after infection in splenic cells. The increased production of IFN-gamma correlated with the clearance of Listeria from the peritoneal cavity and spleen. Macrophages derived from mice at these times were activated as evidenced by expression of nonspecific tumoricidal activity against 111In-labeled P815 mastocytoma cells. Injection of neutralizing monoclonal anti-IFN-gamma into 1-day-infected mice completely inhibited the generation of activated macrophages. Normal hamster IgG had no effect. In vivo, the monoclonal antibody also abrogated clearance of bacteria from the spleen and peritoneal cavity. Six days after injection of a sublethal dose of Listeria, the peritoneal cavity of control mice treated with normal hamster IgG was devoid of bacteria and the spleen contained less than 10(3) colony-forming units. However, mice treated with anti-IFN-gamma carried more than 8 X 10(6) colony-forming units in either anatomical site at day 6 and exhibited a higher mortality rate. These results indicate that IFN-gamma production is required for the in vivo generation of activated macrophages and the clearance of bacteria during Listeria infection.

Animals↗

Enhancement of resistance to Listeria monocytogenes infection in mice by pyrimidine analogs.

The modulation of murine host resistance to infection with Listeria monocytogenes by the substituted pyrimidine anti-viral compounds, 2-amino-5-bromo-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinol (ABMP), 2-amino-5-bromo-6-phenyl-4-pyrimidinol (ABPP) and 2-amino-5-iodo-6-phenyl-4-pyrimidinol (AIPP) was investigated. BAF1 mice given three daily injections of ABMP, ABPP (as well as of the interferon-inducer poly I:C) demonstrated enhanced anti-listerial resistance, as measured by a 100-fold increase in the median lethal dose of Listeria compared to vehicle-treated control mice. This enhancement was also detectable as a decrease (up to 100-fold) in the number of viable Listeria recoverable from the livers and spleens of mice during the non-immune phase of natural resistance (24-72 h following infection) to this pathogen. In contrast, AIPP did not enhance anti-listerial resistance. Since each of the effective agents have been shown to induce the production of interferon, the role of interferon in the mechanism of natural resistance to Listeria was evaluated. The serum of untreated B10.A mice infected with Listeria was shown to contain high levels of interferon. Treatment of these mice with a potent anti-mouse interferon antibody preparation completely neutralized circulating interferon activity; however, such treatment had no apparent effect on the growth of Listeria. In addition, mice which received injections of both ABMP and anti-interferon demonstrated a level of resistance identical to that seen in mice given ABMP and normal serum. Based on these results, we propose that although interferon is produced in response to listerial infection, interferon is not a critically important mediator in the mechanism of natural resistance to this pathogen. Furthermore, it appears that the immunomodulating activity of these experimental compounds does not involve interferon.

Animals↗

Sex-dependent susceptibility to Listeria monocytogenes infection is mediated by differential interleukin-10 production.

It is well documented that sex-dependent factors affect susceptibility to infection, with most mouse models demonstrating higher resistance in females. We made the unexpected observation that infection with the intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes showed an opposite pattern in several commonly used inbred mouse strains: female C57BL/6J, BALB/c, C3H/HeN, and CBA/J mice were significantly more susceptible to Listeria infection. The pronounced sensitivity of females to Listeria, which was revealed by significantly higher lethality rates, correlated also with increased bacterial numbers in organ tissues (spleen and liver) and several immunological changes in peripheral blood samples. Surprisingly, increased severity of infection in females was associated with elevated interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels in plasma. Experiments using Il10 knockout mice, for which no differences between the susceptibilities of males and females to Listeria infection could be detected, confirmed the important role of this immunosuppressive cytokine for the outcome of disease. Our findings are likely to have clinical relevance, since similar sex differences with regard to infection with Listeria monocytogenes and other intracellular pathogens have been reported for humans.

Animals↗

Petiveria alliacea L. extract protects mice against Listeria monocytogenes infection--effects on bone marrow progenitor cells.

In this study we have investigated the effects of Petiveria alliacea on the hematopoietic response of mice infected with Listeria monocytogenes. Our results demonstrate a protective effect of the crude extract of P. alliacea since the survival of the treated/infected was higher than that in the infected group. Moreover, the number of granulocyte/macrophage colonies (CFU-GM) and the serum colony stimulating activity levels were increased in the treated/infected mice in relation to the infected group. These results suggest an immunomodulation of Petiveria alliacea extract on hematopoiesis, which may be responsible, at least in part, for the increased resistance of mice to Listeria monocytogenes infection.

Allium↗