Publications

listerial endocarditis in a penicillin-allergic woman successfully treated with a combination of 4 drugs.	a 69-y-old woman with bioprosthetic endocarditis due to listeria monocytogenes developed an allergic reaction after beginning ampicillin treatment. she was cured with the combination of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, rifampicin and teicoplanin. no immune deficiency was found in the patient.	2002	12069025
the occurrence of pathogenic listeria monocytogenes and antibodies against listeriolysin-o in buffaloes.	the occurrence of listeria monocytogenes in meat and milk samples, and antilisteriolysin o (allo) antibodies in sera of buffaloes were studied. isolation of the pathogen was attempted from the samples by selective enrichment in university of vermont medium and plating onto dominguez-rodriguez isolation agar. the pathogenicity of the isolates was tested by christie, atkins, munch petersen test and mouse inoculation test. of 167 meat samples 2.4 and 10.17% were positive for l. monocytogenes and li ...	2002	12069270
comparative intracellular (thp-1 macrophage) and extracellular activities of beta-lactams, azithromycin, gentamicin, and fluoroquinolones against listeria monocytogenes at clinically relevant concentrations.	the activities of ampicillin, meropenem, azithromycin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, and moxifloxacin against intracellular hemolysin-positive listeria monocytogenes were measured in human thp-1 macrophages and were compared with the extracellular activities observed in broth. all extracellular concentrations were adjusted to explore ranges that are clinically achievable in human serum upon conventional therapy. in broth, ampicillin, meropenem, and azithromycin were only bacteriostatic, whereas gen ...	2002	12069960
tyrosine 759 of the cytokine receptor gp130 is involved in listeria monocytogenes susceptibility.	interleukin-6 family cytokines have been implicated in adaptive and innate immunity, hematopoiesis, and inflammation. this cytokine family shares a signal-transducing receptor subunit called gp130. gp130(f759/f759) knockin mice carry a point mutation at the shp2-binding site of gp130 due to the replacement of tyrosine-759 (y759 for human gp130) with phenylalanine (f). to explore the effect of this point mutation on the host response to bacterial infection, gp130(f759/f759) knockin mice were infe ...	2002	12070777
[survey of the presence of bacterial pathogens in foods sold at retail stores in the city of cassino].	the presence of bacterial food pathogens was evaluated in 154 food samples collected from supermarkets and butchers in the city of cassino (south-central italy). food pathogens were identified in 17.5% of the total food samples. in the raw meat samples, 24.6% tested positives for listeria monocytogenes, 4.3% for salmonella and 2.9% for escherichia coli o157. y. enterocolitica, only investigated in pork meat, was identified in 7.4% of the samples. in poultry, l. monocytogenes was identified in 55 ...	2002	12070904
spontaneous bacterial peritonitis due to listeria monocytogenes in a patient with primary pulmonary hypertension.		2002	12072948
molecular typing of listeria monocytogenes.		2002	12073828
numbers and types of microorganisms in vacuum-packed cold-smoked freshwater fish at the retail level.	fifty-four packages (each one belonging to a different lot) of vacuum-packed cold-smoked salmon (30) and trout (24) produced by six spanish smokehouses were obtained at retail level after 3 weeks storage at 2+/-1 degrees c. sensorial, chemical, physicochemical and microbiological characteristics were examined. overall, ph, a(w), salt content in water phase, aerobic plate counts at 30 and 25 degrees c. levels of enterobacteriaceae, lactic acid bacteria (lab), fungi and presumptive aeromonads and ...	2002	12076034
a semi-quantitative seafood safety risk assessment.	as part of a semi-quantitative risk assessment of 10 seafood hazard/product combinations, a risk assessment tool was used to generate a risk ranking. the tool is in a spreadsheet software format and provides a risk estimate, which is scaled between 0 and 100, where 0 represents no risk and 100 represents all meals containing a lethal dose of the hazard. a full description of the tool is contained in ross and sumner (this issue). based on their ranking, seafoods in australia fell into three risk ...	2002	12076038
similar listeria monocytogenes pulsotypes detected in several foods originating from different sources.	the purpose of the study was to obtain fingerprinting data of listeria monocytogenes strains isolated in various foods to determine possible associations of strains with product type, producer, country or isolation time. two hundred and ninety-five l. monocytogenes strains originating from food items of 41 producers of 10 countries were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (pfge) typing. combination of asci and apai macrorestriction patterns (mrp) yielded 66 different pulsotypes. te ...	2002	12076041
osmoprotection by carnitine in a listeria monocytogenes mutant lacking the opuc transporter: evidence for a low affinity carnitine uptake system.	a deletion mutant of listeria monocytogenes lacking opuc, an abc transporter responsible for the uptake of the compatible solute carnitine, was constructed and carnitine transport assays confirmed that carnitine transport was defective in this mutant. however, the mutant retained the ability to derive osmoprotection from carnitine, suggesting the presence of a second uptake system for this compatible solute. measurement of intracellular carnitine pools during balanced growth confirmed that the o ...	2002	12076811
listeriosis in recipients of allogeneic blood and marrow transplantation: thirteen year review of disease characteristics, treatment outcomes and a new association with human cytomegalovirus infection.	listeriosis is uncommon in recipients of allogeneic blood, marrow and organ transplantation. six patients with systemic listeria monocytogenes infection during 1985-1997 at bone marrow transplantation service, memorial sloan-kettering cancer center are described. in two male and four female patients, the median duration from transplantation to isolation of l. monocytogenes was 62.5 (range 29 to 821) days. among five allogeneic marrow transplant recipients, four (80%) received hla antigen matched ...	2002	12080357
[clinico-epidemiological study of neurolisteriosis in the province of segovia].	listeria monocytogenes is a microorganism with marked tropism towards the central nervous system. one of the commonest forms of presentation is as a meningeal infection. the objective of this study is to describe the epidemiological, clinical and laboratory characteristics and therapeutic implications.	2002	12080487
bactericidal group iia phospholipase a2 in serum of patients with bacterial infections.	group iia phospholipase a2 (pla2-iia) is a newly recognized antibacterial acute phase protein. the concentration of pla2-iia increases up to 500-fold in the blood plasma of patients with severe acute diseases, compared with healthy persons. despite numerous studies, the exact roles of this enzyme in human diseases are unknown. this study investigated the antibacterial properties of pla2-iia in human acute phase serum. pla2-iia in serum samples of patients with bacterial infections was capable of ...	2002	12085323
on the specificity of pcr detection of listeria monocytogenes in food: a comparison of published primers.	a total of nine pairs of primers, seven previously published and two newly developed, have been assayed for pcr detection of listeria monocytogenes in food. they have been tested for specificity on a total of 72 strains including reference and food isolates belonging to l. monocytogenes and other species in the genus. first of all, a polyphasic approach has been carried out in order to establish a reference strain collection. they were biochemically and genetically characterized by api-lis and r ...	2002	12086177
cd8(+) t cell responses: it's all downhill after their prime.		2002	12087413
characterization of a listeria monocytogenes scott a isolate with high tolerance towards high hydrostatic pressure.	an isolate of l. monocytogenes scott a that is tolerant to high hydrostatic pressure (hhp), named ak01, was isolated upon a single pressurization treatment of 400 mpa for 20 min and was further characterized. the survival of exponential- and stationary-phase cells of ak01 in aces [n-(2-acetamido)-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid] buffer was at least 2 log units higher than that of the wild type over a broad range of pressures (150 to 500 mpa), while both strains showed higher hhp tolerance (piezotoler ...	2002	12088993
prevalence and fingerprinting of listeria monocytogenes strains isolated from raw whole milk in farm bulk tanks and in dairy plant receiving tanks.	the incidence of listeria species in raw whole milk from farm bulk tanks and from raw milk in storage at a swedish dairy plant was studied. listeria monocytogenes was found in 1.0% and listeria innocua was found in 2.3% of the 294 farm bulk tank (farm tank) milk specimens. one farm tank specimen contained 60 cfu of l. monocytogenes ml(-1). l. monocytogenes was detected in 19.6% and l. innocua was detected in 8.5% of the milk specimens from the silo receiving tanks at the dairy (dairy silos). mor ...	2002	12089016
positive selection of mhc class ib-restricted cd8(+) t cells on hematopoietic cells.	unlike conventional cd8(+) t cells, major histocompatibility complex (mhc) class ib-restricted cd8(+) t cells show an activated phenotype in uninfected mice and respond rapidly to foreign invaders. the underlying factors that contribute to these differences are not well understood. we show here that the activated phenotype of mhc class ib-restricted cd8(+) t cells was partially acquired as a result of interactions in the thymus and reflected an increased capacity to be selected via interactions ...	2002	12089507
[spontaneous bacterial peritonitis caused by listeria monocytogenes].		2002	12090069
hospital-acquired listeriosis.	we report four cases of listeriosis that occurred over a two-month period in north east england. due to the apparent nosocomial acquisition of infection and the clustering of cases in time and place, extended epidemiological investigation was performed and the outbreak was traced to a caterer who was providing sandwiches for hospital shops. we discuss the difficulties in preventing food-borne listeriosis in the hospital setting.	2002	12090802
multidrug resistant neonatal sepsis in peshawar, pakistan.	to investigate the spectrum of organisms causing neonatal sepsis in peshawar, pakistan and to assess their sensitivity to various groups of drugs.	2002	12091293
behavior of listeria monocytogenes inoculated on cantaloupe surfaces and efficacy of washing treatments to reduce transfer from rind to fresh-cut pieces.	attachment and survival of listeria monocytogenes on external surfaces (rind) of inoculated cantaloupe, resistance of the surviving bacteria to chlorine or hydrogen peroxide treatments, transfer of the pathogen from unsanitized and sanitized rinds to fresh-cut tissues during cutting and growth, and survival of l. monocytogenes on fresh-cut pieces of cantaloupe were investigated. surface treatment with 70% ethanol to reduce the native microflora on treated melon, followed by immersion in a four-s ...	2002	12092724
postpackage pasteurization of ready-to-eat deli meats by submersion heating for reduction of listeria monocytogenes.	a mixed cocktail of four strains of listeria monocytogenes was resuspended in product purge and added to a variety of ready-to-eat (rte) meat products, including turkey, ham, and roast beef. all products were vacuum sealed in shrink-wrap packaging bags, massaged to ensure inoculum distribution, and processed by submersion heating in a precision-controlled steam-injected water bath. products were run in pairs at various time-temperature combinations in either duplicate or triplicate replications. ...	2002	12092729
spontaneous listeria monocytogenes peritonitis: a population-based study of 13 cases collected in spain.	we aimed to assess the incidence, demographic data, clinical features, and outcome of peritoneal infections due to listeria monocytogenes in individuals with cirrhosis.	2002	12094874
regulation of the expression of mouse tap-associated glycoprotein (tapasin) by cytokines.	the expression of antigen presenting mhc class i molecules can be enhanced through cytokines, e.g. upon infection with bacteria or viruses, either directly by enhancing class i gene transcription or by increasing the amounts of accessory proteins of the loading complex. tapasin plays a significant role in the peptide loading of class i molecules. here, we describe recognition motifs of cytokine inducible transcription factors in the promoter region of the mouse tapasin gene, most of them cluster ...	2002	12095710
neonatal lead exposure potentiates sickness behavior induced by listeria monocytogenes infection of mice.	the effects of lead (pb) administration on infection-induced decreases in water intake, food intake, and body weight gain have been assessed as manifestations of sickness behavior using a balb/c mouse model. pb acetate (0.5 mm) was administered via drinking water to dams from day 0 postpartum to weaning and to mouse pups after weaning until sacrifice. at 22 days after birth, young mice were infected with listeria monocytogenes. mice with blood pb levels of less than 25 microg/dl exhibited enhanc ...	2002	12096892
cd94/nkg2 expression does not inhibit cytotoxic function of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-specific cd8+ t cells.	murine ag-specific cd8(+) t cells express various nk markers and nk inhibitory receptors that have been proposed to modulate immune responses. following acute infection of c57bl/6 and balb/cj mice with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (lcmv), we observed that ag-specific cd8(+) t cells expressed cd94/nkg2. only slight expression of ly49a and ly49c receptors was observed on np396-specific t cells, while all np396-specific t cells expressed the nkt cell marker u5a2-13 ag. expression of cd94/nkg2 ...	2002	12097371
edible bioactive fatty acid-cellulosic derivative composites used in food-packaging applications.	to develop biodegradable packaging that both acts as a moisture barrier and as antimicrobial activity, nisin and stearic acid were incorporated into a hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (hpmc) based film. fifteen percent (w/w hpmc) of stearic acid improved film moisture barrier. however, film mechanical resistance and film antimicrobial activity on listeria monocytogenes and staphylococcus aureus pathogenic strains were both reduced. this lower film inhibitory activity was due to interactions betwe ...	2002	12105960
construction, characterization, and use of two listeria monocytogenes site-specific phage integration vectors.	two site-specific shuttle integration vectors were developed with two different chromosomal bacteriophage integration sites to facilitate strain construction in listeria monocytogenes. the first vector, ppl1, utilizes the listeriophage u153 integrase and attachment site within the comk gene for chromosomal insertion. ppl1 contains a useful polylinker, can be directly conjugated from escherichia coli into l. monocytogenes, forms stable, single-copy integrants at a frequency of approximately 10(-4 ...	2002	12107135
listeria monocytogenes meningitis: serotype distribution and patient characteristics in the netherlands, 1976-95.	two hundred and seven cases of listeria meningitis that occurred in the netherlands over 20 years were reviewed to study associations between listeria monocytogenes serotype, age, underlying disease, and outcome. the mean annual incidence per 100,000 population was 0.12 in 1981-90, decreasing to 0.07 in 1991-5. underlying disease was present in 50% of non-neonatal patients, most often haematological malignancy (15%) and the use of immunosuppressive therapy (14%). the meningitis-related case fata ...	2002	12113484
inhibition of salmonella typhimurium and listeria monocytogenes in mung bean sprouts by chemical treatment.	this study was undertaken to compare the efficacies of chlorous acid (268 ppm), sodium hypochlorite (200 ppm), and lactic acid (2%) in eliminating total mesophilic microorganisms, salmonella typhimurium, and listeria monocytogenes on commercial mung bean sprouts immediately after treatment and during posttreatment refrigerated storage. treatment with sodium hypochlorite for 10 min did not reduce the total aerobic count. however, treatment with lactic acid and chlorous acid for 10 min initially r ...	2002	12117239
relationship of cell surface charge and hydrophobicity to strength of attachment of bacteria to cantaloupe rind.	the cantaloupe melon has been associated with outbreaks of salmonella infections. it is suspected that bacterial surface charge and hydrophobicity may affect bacterial attachment and complicate bacterial detachment from cantaloupe surfaces. the surface charge and hydrophobicity of strains of salmonella, escherichia coli (o157:h7 and non-o157:h7), and listeria monocytogenes were determined by electrostatic and hydrophobic interaction chromatography, respectively. initial bacterial attachment to c ...	2002	12117240
development of a technique to quantify the effectiveness of enrichment regimes in recovering "stressed" listeria cells.	a rapid, reliable microwell plate method based on the most probable number (mpn) technique was used to determine the effectiveness of five enrichment regimes in the recovery and enumeration of listeria spp. cells from five seafood products. the products tested were chosen to reflect conditions under which cells were exposed to the "stresses" associated with a variety of food-processing techniques, such as treatments involving an ethanol-based marinade, lowered ph (acetic acid), heat, sugar and s ...	2002	12117245
transfer of persistent listeria monocytogenes contamination between food-processing plants associated with a dicing machine.	the possibility of the transfer of persistent listeria monocytogenes contamination from one plant to another with a dicing machine was evaluated, and possible reasons for persistent contamination were analyzed. a dicing machine that diced cooked meat products was transferred from plant a to plant b and then to plant c. after the transfer of the dicing machine, l. monocytogenes pfge type i, originally found in plant a, was soon also found in plants b and c. this l. monocytogenes pfge type i cause ...	2002	12117246
effects of uv irradiation on selected pathogens in peptone water and on stainless steel and chicken meat.	effects of intensity and processing time of 254 nm uv irradiation on listeria monocytogenes, escherichia coli o157:h7, and salmonella typhimurium were investigated. intensities measured at 5.08, 10.1, 15.2, and 20.3 cm from the light source were 1.000, 500, 250, and 150 microw/cm2, respectively. intensities of 250 or 500 microw/cm2 reduced all suspended pathogen cells in peptone water about 5 log cycles after 2 min and completely inactivated l. monocytogenes and e. coli o157:h7 after 3 min by re ...	2002	12117248
influence of catfish skin mucus on trisodium phosphate inactivation of attached salmonella typhimurium, edwardsiella tarda, and listeria monocytogenes.	this study examined the antimicrobial effectiveness of trisodium phosphate (tsp) on edwardsiella tarda, listeria monocytogenes, and salmonella typhimurium attached to catfish skin with and without mucus. salmonella typhimurium and e. tarda attached more readily to catfish skin than did l monocytogenes. at high inoculum levels (10(7) cfu/ml), tsp treatments (at 2 to 6%) for 10 min reduced bacterial counts of e. tarda by >2.5 to >3.3 log10 cfu per skin sample for firmly attached cells and by 3.5 t ...	2002	12117249
effect of acid adaptation on the fate of listeria monocytogenes in thp-1 human macrophages activated by gamma interferon.	in listeria monocytogenes the acid tolerance response (atr) takes place through a programmed molecular response which ensures cell survival under unfavorable conditions. much evidence links atr with virulence, but the molecular determinants involved in the reactivity to low phs and the behavior of acid-exposed bacteria within host cells are still poorly understood. we have investigated the effect of acid adaptation on the fate of l. monocytogenes in human macrophages. expression of genes encodin ...	2002	12117947
mobilization of protein kinase c in macrophages induced by listeria monocytogenes affects its internalization and escape from the phagosome.	listeriolysin o (llo) and a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase c (pi-plc) are known virulence factors of listeria monocytogenes in both tissue cultures and the murine model of infection. llo is a member of a family of pore-forming cholesterol-dependent cytotoxins and is known to play an essential role in escape from the primary phagocytic vacuole of macrophages. pi-plc plays an accessory role, in that pi-plc mutants are partially defective in escape. we have shown that both of these mol ...	2002	12117979
colony-stimulating factor 1-dependent cells protect against systemic infection with listeria monocytogenes but facilitate neuroinvasion.	by using mice genomically lacking the mononuclear phagocytic growth factor colony-stimulating factor 1 and thereby deficient in macrophage and dendritic cell populations, we show that these cells play a dual role: they constitute a major defense against systemic infection but also facilitate cerebral bacterial invasion by listeria monocytogenes.	2002	12117983
effects of inhaled ozone on pulmonary immune cells critical to antibacterial responses in situ.	the goal of this study was to examine effects from repeated exposure to ozone (o3) on immune cells involved in cell-mediated antibacterial responses in the lungs. rats exposed to 0.1 or 0.3 ppm o3 for 4 h/day, 5 days/wk, for 1 or 3 wk were analyzed for the ability to clear an intrapulmonary challenge with listeria monocytogenes or had their lungs processed to obtain pulmonary alveolar macrophages (pam) and lung-associated lymphocytes for analyses of select cell functions and surface marker expre ...	2002	12119071
prevalence of and resistance to anti-microbial drugs in selected microbial species isolated from bulk milk samples.	the prevalence of strains of staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative (cn) staphylococci, listeria monocytogenes, escherichia coli, enterococcus faecalis, e. faecium and bacillus cereus, was investigated in 111 bulk milk samples. staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 38 samples, cn staphylococci from 63 samples, e. coli from 49 samples, e. faecalis or e. faecium from 107 samples, and l. monocytogenes from two samples. bacillus cereus was not found in any of the samples and three samples were ...	2002	12121041
ena/vasp: solving a cell motility paradox.	modulating the concentration of the actin-binding protein ena/vasp within the lamellipodium of a migrating fibroblast results in marked changes in lamellipodium behaviour and actin network organization at the cell's leading edge. this can explain a cell motility paradox.	2002	12123590
bacteriological infections during the first hundred days of allogenic bone marrow transplantation--experience from oman.	allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (abmt) produces severe neutropenia lasting for days. during the first 100 days of allogeneic bmt bacterial infection is a major cause of mortality and morbidity. this is specially so till the patient engrafts with good neutrophil count (> 500/microl). nature of bacterial infection and its sensitivity pattern partly reflects the patient's own flora, hospital flora and the antibiotic usage pattern in the hospital and the community. hence although we know quit ...	2002	12126346
transferable tetracycline resistance in listeria monocytogenes from food in italy.	mechanisms of tetracycline resistance were investigated in two recent listeria monocytogenes isolates from food, with l. innocua 52p tet(r) as a control. tetracycline resistance was transferred conjugatively from all three strains to l. ivanovii and from one isolate and the control to enterococcus faecalis. molecular analysis demonstrated a chromosomal location for the tet determinant, which was identified as tetm in all cases. these studies are the first to show that l. monocytogenes from food ...	2002	12132772
inhibition of listeriolysin o and phosphatidylcholine-specific production in listeria monocytogenes by subinhibitory concentrations of plant essential oils.	successful infection by listeria monocytogenes is dependent upon a range of bacterial extracellular proteins including a cytolysin termed listeriolysin o and phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase c. five plant essential oils--bay, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and thyme--significantly reduced the production of listeriolysin o by l. monocytogenes. the greatest change was observed after culture with oil of thyme, which reduced haemolysis to 52.1 haemolytic units (hu)/ml compared with 99.8 hu/ml obs ...	2002	12132773
cross-reactive antigen is required to prevent erosion of established t cell memory and tumor immunity: a heterologous bacterial model of attrition.	induction and maintenance of t cell memory is critical for the control of intracellular pathogens and tumors. memory t cells seem to require few "maintenance signals," though often such studies are done in the absence of competing immune challenges. conversely, although attrition of cd8(+) t cell memory has been characterized in heterologous viral models, this is not the case for bacterial infections. in this study, we demonstrate attrition of t cell responses to the intracellular pathogen liste ...	2002	12133940
cross-presentation of listeria monocytogenes-derived cd4 t cell epitopes.	listeriolysin o (llo) mediates the evasion of listeria monocytogenes from the phagolysosome into the cytoplasm of the host cell. the recognition of infected cells by cd4 t cells is thought to be limited by the evasion of bacteria from the phagolysosome and also by the direct llo-mediated inhibition of cd4 t cell activation. to analyze the influence of these immunoevasive mechanisms on the antilisterial cd4 t cell response, the expansion of l. monocytogenes-specific cd4 and cd8 t cells was monito ...	2002	12133966
viral and bacterial infections induce expression of multiple nk cell receptors in responding cd8(+) t cells.	nk cells express several families of receptors that play central roles in target cell recognition. these nk cell receptors are also expressed by certain memory phenotype cd8(+) t cells, and in some cases are up-regulated in t cells responding to viral infection. to determine how the profile of nk receptor expression changes in murine cd8(+) t cells as they respond to intracellular pathogens, we used class i tetramer reagents to directly examine ag-specific t cells during lymphocytic choriomening ...	2002	12133970
[rombencephalitis due to listeria monocytogenes. probable usefulness of dexamethasone associated with antibiotic treatment].	infection of the central nervous system by listeria monocytogenes appears in most cases as acute meningitis which is indistinguishable from other types of acute meningitis. rombencephalitis is a rare form of neurolisteriosis, localized to the brainstem. the initial non specific symptoms may make early diagnosis difficult.	2002	12134344
blood lines.		2002	12145653
[initial antibiotic therapy in maternal-fetal infections which include ampicillin even in countries where listeriosis is an incidental disease].	neonatal listeriosis is an exceptional disease in northern africa. hence, protocols for maternal-fetal infection treatment include only a third generation cephalosporin and an aminoside. this protocol does not take into account the possibility of listeria monocytogenes infection. we report a fatal case of neonatal listeriosis in tunisia. the use of first antibiotics in maternal-foetal infection must be reconsidered when lacking sufficient bacteriological data and include systematically ampicilli ...	2002	12145955
inhibition of listeria monocytogenes in chicken cold cuts by addition of sakacin p and sakacin p-producing lactobacillus sakei.	to evaluate the potential of sakacin p and sakacin p-producing lactobacillus sakei for the inhibition of growth of listeria monocytogenes in chicken cold cuts, by answering the following questions. (i) is sakacin p actually produced in food? (ii) is sakacin p produced in situ responsible for the inhibiting effect? (iii) how stable is sakacin p in food?	2002	12147066
biochemical and genetic characterization of mundticin ks, an antilisterial peptide produced by enterococcus mundtii nfri 7393.	mundticin ks, a bacteriocin produced by enterococcus mundtii nfri 7393 isolated from grass silage in thailand, is active against closely related lactic acid bacteria and the food-borne pathogen listeria monocytogenes. in this study, biochemical and genetic characterization of mundticin ks was done. mundticin ks was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate precipitation, sequential ion-exchange chromatography, and solid-phase extraction. the gene cluster (mun locus) for mundticin ks production ...	2002	12147478
the pepr gene of lactobacillus sakei is positively regulated by anaerobiosis at the transcriptional level.	lactobacillus sakei is a lactic acid bacterium belonging to the natural flora of meat products. it constitutes the main flora of vacuum-packed meat and is largely used in western europe as a starter for the manufacturing of fermented sausages. this species is able to grow both under aerobiosis and anaerobiosis. in many technological processes involving it, oxygen is scarce. the aim of this study was to identify the major proteins affected by growth under anaerobiosis. using two-dimensional elect ...	2002	12147484
transfer of microorganisms, including listeria monocytogenes, from various materials to beef.	the quantity of microorganisms that may be transferred to a food that comes into contact with a contaminated surface depends on the density of microorganisms on the surface and on the attachment strengths of the microorganisms on the materials. we made repeated contacts between pieces of meat and various surfaces (stainless steel and conveyor belt materials [polyvinyl chloride and polyurethane]), which were conditioned with meat exudate and then were contaminated with listeria monocytogenes, sta ...	2002	12147503
update on listeria monocytogenes infection.	listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive bacillus that causes meningitis, encephalitis, bacteremia, and febrile gastroenteritis. most disease occurs in immunosuppressed individuals. recent seroepidemiologic studies show that the infection is foodborne. due to the increasing number of immunosuppressed individuals at risk for listeriosis, as well as the persistence of substantial foodborne outbreaks, l. monocytogenes has gained worldwide attention as an important pathogen. heightened surveillance ...	2002	12149174
irak-m is a negative regulator of toll-like receptor signaling.	toll-like receptors (tlrs) detect microorganisms and protect multicellular organisms from infection. tlrs transduce their signals through myd88 and the serine/threonine kinase irak. the irak family consists of two active kinases, irak and irak-4, and two inactive kinases, irak-2 and irak-m. irak-m expression is restricted to monocytes/macrophages, whereas other iraks are ubiquitous. we show here that irak-m is induced upon tlr stimulation and negatively regulates tlr signaling. irak-m prevented ...	2002	12150927
stress-response sigma factor sigma(h) directs expression of the gltb gene encoding glutamate synthase in streptomyces coelicolor a3(2).	using the previously established escherichia coli two-plasmid system, we identified a promoter recognized by the streptomyces coelicolor stress-response sigma factor sigma(h). the promoter directed expression of the gltb gene, encoding a protein with considerable homology with large subunit of glutamate synthases. s1-nuclease mapping using rna prepared from s. coelicolor identified an identical transcription start point corresponding to the promoter. the level of the transcript from this promote ...	2002	12151108
a case report of sporadic ovine listerial menigoencephalitis in iowa with an overview of livestock and human cases.	a case of ovine listeriosis was examined in a flock of sheep. the index case was a male lamb, which was part of a flock of 85 sheep located in central iowa. because the sheep were raised on a premise where soybean sprouts were also cultivated for the organic foods market, the potential of a public health concern was addressed. to identify the source of contaminations, clinical and environmental samples were cultured for listeria monocytogenes. isolates were serotyped and analyzed using pulsed-fi ...	2002	12152811
inlb, a surface protein of listeria monocytogenes that behaves as an invasin and a growth factor.	molecules from some pathogenic bacteria mimic natural host cell ligands and trigger engulfment of the bacterium after specifically interacting with cell-surface receptors. the leucine-rich repeat (lrr)-containing protein inlb of listeria monocytogenes is one such molecule. it triggers bacterial entry by interacting with the hepatocyte growth factor receptor (hgf-r or met) and two other cellular components: gc1q-r and proteoglycans. recent studies point to significant similarities between the mol ...	2002	12154067
bacteriological analysis of fresh produce in norway.	a total of 890 samples of fresh produce obtained from norwegian markets were examined in order to assess the bacteriological quality of the products and their potential public health risk. the samples comprised lettuce, pre-cut salads, growing herbs, parsley and dill, mushrooms and strawberries. the samples were analysed for the presence of thermotolerant coliform bacteria (tcb), escherichia coli o157, salmonella spp., listeria monocytogenes, staphylococcus spp., and yersinia enterocolitica. nei ...	2002	12160079
rip2: a novel therapeutic target for bacteria-induced inflammation?		2002	12160628
the cell biology of listeria monocytogenes infection: the intersection of bacterial pathogenesis and cell-mediated immunity.	listeria monocytogenes has emerged as a remarkably tractable pathogen to dissect basic aspects of cell biology, intracellular pathogenesis, and innate and acquired immunity. in order to maintain its intracellular lifestyle, l. monocytogenes has evolved a number of mechanisms to exploit host processes to grow and spread cell to cell without damaging the host cell. the pore-forming protein listeriolysin o mediates escape from host vacuoles and utilizes multiple fail-safe mechanisms to avoid causin ...	2002	12163465
protective immunosurveillance of the central nervous system by listeria-specific cd4 and cd8 t cells in systemic listeriosis in the absence of intracerebral listeria.	the invasion of the cns by pathogens poses a major risk for damage of the highly vulnerable brain. the aim of the present study was to analyze immunological mechanisms that may prevent spread of infections to the cns. intraperitoneal application of listeria monocytogenes to mice induced infection of the spleen, whereas pathogens remained absent from the brain. interestingly, listeria-specific cd4 and cd8 t cells homed to the brain and persisted intracerebrally for at least 50 days after both pri ...	2002	12165527
pneumonia involving legionella pneumophila and listeria monocytogenes in an immunocompromised patient: an unusual coinfection.	recently, empirical therapy has been recommended for severe community-acquired pneumonia. we report the case of a 68-year-old prednisone-treated man with multiple myeloma who developed a fatal pneumonia due to legionella pneumophila and listeria monocytogenes confirmed by immunohistochemistry on postmortem lung sampling. involvement of the latter bacteria and association of two different pathogens are both highly uncommon features in pneumonia. the route of infection with l. monocytogenes is dis ...	2002	12169753
characterization of a bacteriocin produced by a newly isolated bacillus sp. strain 8 a.	the aim of this research was to investigate the production of bacteriocins by bacillus spp. isolated from native soils of south of brazil.	2002	12174052
listeriolysin of listeria monocytogenes forms ca2+-permeable pores leading to intracellular ca2+ oscillations.	listeriolysin (llo) is a major virulence factor of listeria monocytogenes, a gram-positive bacterium that can cause life-threatening diseases. various signalling events and cellular effects, including modulation of gene expression, are triggered by llo through unknown mechanisms. here, we demonstrate that llo applied extracellularly at sublytic concentrations causes long-lasting oscillations of the intracellular ca2+ level of human embryonic kidney cells; resulting from a pulsed influx of extrac ...	2002	12174083
activation of mucin exocytosis and upregulation of muc genes in polarized human intestinal mucin-secreting cells by the thiol-activated exotoxin listeriolysin o.	the secreted thiol-activated cytolysin listeriolysin o (llo) was responsible for l. monocytogenes-induced high-molecular glycoproteins (hmgs) exocytosis in cultured human mucosecreting ht29-mtx cells. by biochemical analysis we demonstrate that the majority of secreted hmgs in llo-stimulated cells are of mucin origin. in parallel, analysis of the expression of mucs genes showed that the transcription of the muc3, muc4 and muc12 genes encoding for membrane-bound mucins was increased in llo-stimul ...	2002	12174086
[the role of nitric oxide in listeria encephalitis of ruminants and in rats intracisternally infected with listeria monocytogenes].	listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive facultative intracellular bacteria which infects a wide range of hosts. in ruminants, infection with l. monocytogenes frequently causes encephalitis, which is usually fatal in sheep and goat, while cattle often recover with antibiotic therapy. since the role of no in the control of listeria is controversial, we have studied the expression of inos in the brains of cattle, sheep and goats which had succumbed to listeria encephalitis. inos was demonstrated ...	2002	12174722
high-level resistance to class iia bacteriocins is associated with one general mechanism in listeria monocytogenes.	class iia bacteriocins may be used as natural food preservatives, yet resistance development in the target organisms is still poorly understood. in this study, the understanding of class iia resistance development in listeria monocytogenes is extended, linking the seemingly diverging results previously reported. eight resistant mutants having a high resistance level (at least a 10(3)-fold increase in mic), originating from five wild-type listerial strains, were independently isolated following e ...	2002	12177330
identification and characterization of novel small rnas in the asps-yrvm intergenic region of the bacillus subtilis genome.	a novel rna species was isolated from bacillus subtilis, and its sequence was determined and mapped to its genetic position. this rna was termed bs190 rna from the length of its mature form (190 nt), and the gene encoding it is located within the asps-yrvm intergenic region of the b. subtilis genome. northern blotting revealed that the novel rna species is transcribed in vegetative cells as a larger precursor (bs201 rna, 201 nt). after transcription, the 5' end of the precursor is processed to g ...	2002	12177353
french laboratory proficiency testing program for food microbiology.	the proficiency testing program in food microbiology (réseau d'analyses et d'echanges en microbiologie des aliments; raema), created in 1988, currently includes 440 participating laboratories. the program establishes proficiency in detection of salmonella and listeria monocytogenes, as well as quantitation of aerobic microorganisms, enterobacteriaceae, coliforms, escherichia coli, clostridium perfringens, coagulase-positive staphylococcus, and listeria monocytogenes. twice a year, 5 test samples ...	2002	12180693
identification of a second listeria seca gene associated with protein secretion and the rough phenotype.	we describe the identification and characterization of a second seca gene in listeria monocytogenes. this gene, termed seca2, is involved in smooth-rough phenotypic variation and seca2 expression contributes to bacterial virulence. spontaneous rough (r-) variants of l. monocytogenes grow in chains and form rough colonies on solid media. a subset of r-variants, classified here as type i, also shows reduced secretion of an autolysin, p60. we find that disruptions and in frame deletions in seca2 co ...	2002	12180923
listeria monocytogenes bile salt hydrolase is a prfa-regulated virulence factor involved in the intestinal and hepatic phases of listeriosis.	listeria monocytogenes is a bacterial pathogen causing severe food-borne infections in humans and animals. it can sense and adapt to a variety of harsh microenvironments outside as well as inside the host. once ingested by a mammalian host, the bacterial pathogen reaches the intestinal lumen, where it encounters bile salts which, in addition to their role in digestion, have antimicrobial activity. comparison of the l. monocytogenes and listeria innocua genomes has revealed the presence of an l. ...	2002	12180927
modulation of delayed-type hypersensitivity and acquired cellular resistance by orally administered viable indigenous lactobacilli in listeria monocytogenes infected wistar rats.	various probiotic lactobacilli have been reported to modulate immunity. in this study we investigate the effects of viable indigenous lactobacillus strains utr-1, utr-2 and utr-3, on t cell-mediated immunological memory responses.	2002	12180952
inactivation of escherichia coli o157:h7, salmonella enterica serotype enteritidis, and listeria monocytogenes on lettuce by hydrogen peroxide and lactic acid and by hydrogen peroxide with mild heat.	iceberg lettuce is a major component in vegetable salad and has been associated with many outbreaks of foodborne illnesses. in this study, several combinations of lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide were tested to obtain effective antibacterial activity without adverse effects on sensory characteristics. a five-strain mixture of escherichia coli o157:h7, salmonella enterica serotype enteritidis, and listeria monocytogenes was inoculated separately onto fresh-cut lettuce leaves, which were later tr ...	2002	12182470
assessment of the potential for listeria monocytogenes survival and growth during alfalfa sprout production and use of ionizing radiation as a potential intervention treatment.	alfalfa seeds (australian, nondormant, nonscarified) were treated with 20,000 ppm active chlorine, sprouted in canning jars for 5 days, and packaged and stored at 5 degrees c for up to 9 days. seeds or sprouts were inoculated with a three-strain cocktail of listeria monocytogenes at one of three points during the process-day 0 (before 24-h aqueous seed soak), day 1 (after 24-h aqueous seed soak), or day 5 (after sprouting, before prepackaging 10 ppm chlorine rinse)--or control (no inoculum), and ...	2002	12182477
rapid enumeration of listeria monocytogenes in artificially contaminated cabbage using real-time polymerase chain reaction.	a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (pcr) detection method specific for listeria monocytogenes was developed, and studies involving pure culture showed that the response of the assay was linear over 7 log10 (log) cycles. the method was then applied to the detection of l. monocytogenes artificially inoculated onto cabbage, a vegetable chosen because it is a major component of coleslaw, which has been associated with an outbreak of listeriosis. after being allowed to attach to the f ...	2002	12182489
comparison of growth kinetics for healthy and heat-injured listeria monocytogenes in eight enrichment broths.	detection of listeria in food products is often limited by performance of enrichment media used to support growth of listeria to detectable levels. in this study, growth curves were generated using healthy and heat-injured listeria monocytogenes strain f5069 in three nonselective and five selective enrichment broths. nonselective enrichment media included the current food and drug administration bacteriological analytical manual listeria enrichment broth base (bam), listeria repair broth (lrb), ...	2002	12182490
the lisrk signal transduction system determines the sensitivity of listeria monocytogenes to nisin and cephalosporins.	the listeria monocytogenes two-component signal transduction system, lisrk, initially identified in strain lo28, plays a significant role in the virulence potential of this important food-borne pathogen. here, it is shown that, in addition to its major contribution in responding to ethanol, ph, and hydrogen peroxide stresses, lisrk is involved in the ability of the cell to tolerate important antimicrobials used in food and in medicine, e.g., the lantibiotic nisin and the cephalosporin family of ...	2002	12183229
comparison of host resistance to primary and secondary listeria monocytogenes infections in mice by intranasal and intravenous routes.	there have been no studies on the susceptibility and host immune responses to an intranasal infection with listeria monocytogenes. in this study, we compared the susceptibilities and cytokine responses between intranasal and intravenous infections with l. monocytogenes in mice. moreover, we compared efficiency of acquisition of host resistance to l. monocytogenes infection between intranasally and intravenously immunized mice because an intranasal immunization of vaccines is reportedly available ...	2002	12183523
penicillin-binding proteins of listeria monocytogenes--a re-evaluation.	intact listeria monocytogenes cells or membranes isolated from them were treated with [3h]penicillin to allow identification of the penicillin binding proteins (pbps) located in the cytoplasmic membrane. in the former case the pbps were released from the cells following disruption of the cell wall murein with listeria monocytogenes bacteriophage lysin. the procedure described by dougherty et al. (1996) for escherichia coli, with some modifications, was used to evaluate the m(r)s of the individua ...	2002	12184448
contaminants in feed for food-producing animals.	outbreaks of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (bse) and food borne microbial infections, dioxin contaminated animal products, the presence of veterinary drug residues, microbial resistance to antibiotics, mycotoxins, agricultural and industrial chemicals, etc. are serious concerns for the food industry in many countries. since the direct links between feed safety and safety of foods of animal origin are obvious, feed production and manufacture should be considered as an integral part of the food ...	2002	12189948
extensive and preferential fas/fas ligand-dependent death of gammadelta t cells following infection with listeria monocytogenes.	in the spleens of mice infected intraperitoneally with the bacterium listeria monocytogenes, both alphabeta and gammadelta t cells became rapidly activated, followed by a massive apoptotic death response predominantly within the gammadelta population. the death response involved two major splenic gammadelta t-cell subsets and was fas/fas ligand (fas-l)-dependent. among t cells isolated from the listeria-infected spleen, fas-l was almost exclusively expressed in gammadelta t cells. gammadelta t c ...	2002	12193224
in vivo depletion of cd11c+ dendritic cells abrogates priming of cd8+ t cells by exogenous cell-associated antigens.	cytotoxic t lymphocytes (ctl) respond to antigenic peptides presented on mhc class i molecules. on most cells, these peptides are exclusively of endogenous, cytosolic origin. bone marrow-derived antigen-presenting cells, however, harbor a unique pathway for mhc i presentation of exogenous antigens. this mechanism permits cross-presentation of pathogen-infected cells and the priming of ctl responses against intracellular microbial infections. here, we report a novel diphtheria toxin-based system ...	2002	12196292
toll-like receptor 2-deficient mice are highly susceptible to streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis because of reduced bacterial clearing and enhanced inflammation.	toll-like receptor-2 (tlr2) mediates host responses to gram-positive bacterial wall components. tlr2 function was investigated in a murine streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis model in wild-type (wt) and tlr2-deficient (tlr2(-/-)) mice. tlr2(-/-) mice showed earlier time of death than wt mice (p<.02). plasma interleukin-6 levels and bacterial numbers in blood and peripheral organs were similar for both strains. with ceftriaxone therapy, none of the wt but 27% of the tlr2(-/-) mice died (p<.04). b ...	2002	12198614
environmental and physico-chemical factors induce vbnc state in listeria monocytogenes.	investigations of bacterial survival in natural environments have indicated that some organisms lose culturability on appropriate media under certain conditions and yet still exhibit signs of metabolic activity and thus viability. this reproducible loss of culturability in many bacterial species led to the description of a "viable but non culturable" (vbnc) state. the purpose of this article is to determine environmental and physico-chemical factors which induce the vbnc state in a food-borne pa ...	2002	12199363
rational design of dna sequence-based strategies for subtyping listeria monocytogenes.	the ability to differentiate bacteria beyond the species level is essential for identifying and tracking infectious disease outbreaks and to improve our knowledge of the population genetics, epidemiology, and ecology of bacterial pathogens. commonly used subtyping methods, such as serotyping, phage typing, ribotyping, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, can yield ambiguous results that are difficult to standardize and share among laboratories. dna sequence-based subtyping strategies can reduce ...	2002	12202573
participation of dnak in expression of genes involved in virulence of listeria monocytogenes.	dnak is required for adaptation to environmental stress and is also involved in bacterial growth under normal conditions. to examine whether dnak plays a role in the expression of genes related to pathogenicity of listeria monocytogenes, the transcription of flaa, iap and lmaa in a dnak mutant was analyzed. northern blot analysis showed that expression of flaa and lmaa mrnas was reduced in the dnak mutant, thy-lk1. a reporter assay revealed that transcription of lmab in the dnak mutant, lks01, c ...	2002	12204374
genetic characterization of the fusidic acid and cadmium resistance determinants of staphylococcus aureus plasmid pub101.	we report the cloning of the fusidic acid and cadmium resistance determinants from staphylococcus aureus plasmid pub101. the pub101 fusidic acid resistance determinant was located on a 2.9 kb hindiii fragment. sequencing of this fragment revealed three putative open reading frames (orfs) of 213 (far1), 152 (orf152) and 170 amino acids (orf170), which are flanked by the right-hand end of insertion sequence is431/257 (is431/257rh) and a partial orf. far1 and orf152 demonstrated homology with a chr ...	2002	12205055
anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy and listeria monocytogenes infection: report of two cases.		2002	12209538
pulmonary microbial infection in mice: comparison of different application methods and correlation of bacterial numbers and histopathology.	many investigations have been performed in characterising experimental bacterial infections in the lung of mice using several pathogens. robust experimental pulmonary infection models require a reproducible method of application with defined numbers of pathogens to the respiratory tract without contaminating extrapulmonary tissues. at the same time trauma due to the experimental procedure should be kept to a minimum. so far several routes of administration have been used but a systematic compari ...	2002	12211633
growth and killing of a salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium sifa mutant strain in the cytosol of different host cell lines.	intracellular pathogens have developed different mechanisms which enable their survival and replication within the host cells. some survive and replicate within a membrane-bound vacuole modified by the bacteria to support microbial growth (e.g. salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium), whereas others escape from the vacuole into the host cell cytosol, where they proliferate (e.g. listeria monocytogenes). in this study a salmonella strain carrying a mutation in sifa which is released from the vac ...	2002	12213917
microbial composition, including the incidence of pathogens, of goat milk from the bergamo region of italy during a lactation year.	sixty samples of raw goat milk intended for caprino cheese-making were collected from ten farms in the bergamo area over a 6-month period. analyses of main microbial groups, somatic cell count (scc) and ph were performed to determine the effect of origin (farm) and lactation period (april - september) on microbial composition and the incidence of pathogens in milk. overall mean values were: standard plate count (spc), 5.0 x 10(4) cfu/ml; yeasts, 2.5 x 10(2) cfu/ml; coliforms, 91 x 10(2) cfu/ml; ...	2002	12222800
factors affecting the performance of 5' nuclease pcr assays for listeria monocytogenes detection.	the design and operating parameters affecting the performance of 5' nuclease pcr (taqman) assays for the detection of listeria monocytogenes was investigated. a system previously developed and based on the hlya gene was used as a model [appl. environ. microbiol. 61 (1995) 3724]. a series of fluorogenic probes labeled with a reporter and a quencher dye was synthesized to explore the effect of probe position and sequence content on the efficiency of probe hydrolysis. in addition, a series of pcr p ...	2002	12223296
detection of escherichia coli o157:h7 using immunomagnetic separation and absorbance measurement.	an assay system for detection of escherichia coli o157:h7 was developed based on immunomagnetic separation of the target pathogen from samples and absorbance measurement of p-nitrophenol at 400 nm from p-nitrophenyl phosphate hydrolysis by alkaline phosphatase (ec 3.1.3.1) on the "sandwich" structure complexes (antibodies coated onto micromagnetic beads--e. coli o157:h7-antibodies conjugated with the enzyme) formed on the microbead surface. the effects of immunoreaction time, phosphate buffer co ...	2002	12223297
development of a microslide agglutination assay with the aid of an inexpensive projection microscope.	a microslide agglutination assay was developed involving the mixing of 2.5 microl each of antiserum and a cell suspension of listeria monocytogenes. cell agglutination in the final volume of 5.0 microl was visually observed at a direct magnification of 22 x on the projection screen of an inexpensive 20 us dollar projection microscope. the procedure has the advantage of increasing by a factor of 20 the number of agglutination assays that can be performed with a given volume of antiserum with the ...	2002	12223305
a predictive model that evaluates the effect of growth conditions on the thermal resistance of listeria monocytogenes.	a predictive model for listeria monocytogenes was developed using cells grown in different ph and milkfat levels before subsequent thermal inactivation in identical ph and milkfat conditions. inactivation of the cells used combinations of temperature (55, 60, 65 degrees c), ph (5.0, 6.0, 7.0), and milkfat (0%, 2.5%, 5.0%) in a complete 3 x 3 x 3 factorial design with each test done in triplicate. a modified gompertz equation was used to model nonlinear survival curves with the following three pa ...	2002	12227642
beneficial or deleterious effects of a preexisting hypersensitivity to bacterial components on the course and outcome of infection.	priming with heat-killed propionibacterium acnes enhances the sensitivity of mice to lipopolysaccharide (lps) and other biologically active bacterial components. we show that p. acnes priming has protective and deleterious effects on a subsequent serovar typhimurium infection. it may result in a complete protection or prolonged survival, or it may accelerate mortality of the infected mice, depending on the number of serovar typhimurium bacteria administered and on the degree of lps hypersensitiv ...	2002	12228287