We purified and characterized an extracellular hemolysin produced by Listeria monocytogenes. Hemolysin production was greatly enhanced by growing bacteria in resin (Chelex)-treated medium. This hemolysin was separated as a homogeneous protein of 60,000 daltons by using thiol-disulfide exchange affinity chromatography. This protein was a sulfhydryl-activated toxin, termed listeriolysin O, which ...

Bacterial toxins can exhibit anticancer activities. Here we investigated the anticancer effects of the listeriolysin O toxin produced by Listeria monocytogenes. We found that supernatants of Listeria monocytogenes strains (wild type, 1189, and 1190) were cytotoxic to the Jurkat cell line and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in a concentration-dependent manner. The supernatant of ...

Listeria monocytogenes is a significant food-borne pathogen and the causative agent of listeriosis, a disease which manifests as meningitis in immunocompromised adults or infection of the fetus and miscarriage in pregnant women. We have previously used Lactococcus lactis, a GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) organism, as a vaccine vector against listeriosis by engineering plasmid-mediated expres...

Listeriolysin is a 60-kDa protein which allows the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in macrophages and other cells and has been shown to be a virulence factor in Listeria infections of adult mice. However, the neonate and fetoplacental unit are major populations susceptible to listeriosis. Recent data indicate that macrophage and T-cell functions are markedly inhibited in these young mice, and ...

The critical roles of sortase A (SrtA) and listeriolysin O (LLO) in Listeria monocytogenes pathogenicity render these two virulence factors as ideal targets for the development of anti-virulence agents against L. monocytogenes infection. Additionally, the structures of SrtA and LLO are highly conserved among the members of sortase enzyme family and cholesterol dependent toxin family. Here, phlo...

Ground beef as commonly consumed among animal products may be suitable for bacterial growth under unhygienic production and storage conditions. Aeromonas spp. can widely found in the environment it is associated with water. With contaminated water used production, microorganisms pass into pose a threat to public health. People are often infected by consuming meat products. causes various disord...

In recent years, an increase of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strains with Multidrug-resistant (MDR) and Extensively Drug-resistant (XDR) profiles that complicate therapy for urinary tract infections (UTIs) has been observed and has directly impacted costs and extended hospital stays. The aim of this study was to determine MDR- and XDR-UPEC clinical strains, their virulence genes, their...

Ken H. Young,1-3 Karen Leroy,4 Michael B. Møller,5 Gisele W. B. Colleoni,6 Margarita Sánchez-Beato,7 Fábio R. Kerbauy,6 Corinne Haioun,4 Jens C. Eickhoff,1-3 Allen H. Young,1-3 Philippe Gaulard,4 Miguel A. Piris,7 Terry D. Oberley,1-3 William M. Rehrauer,1-3 Brad S. Kahl,1-3 James S. Malter,1-3 Elias Campo,8 Jan Delabie,9 Randy D. Gascoyne,10 Andreas Rosenwald,11 Lisa Rimsza,12 James Huang,13 R...