Int Immunol, 1992 May, 4(5), 591 - 8 Transfer of both protection and delayed-type hypersensitivity against live Listeria is mediated by the CD8+ T cell subset: a study with Listeria-specific T lymphocytes recovered from murine infected liver; Goossens PL et al.; The recruitment of specific T lymphocytes in murine liver is thought to be a key event in the ultimate control of Listeria monocytogenes growth during primary infection . However, there has been little functional characterization of the cell populations recruited in this non-lymphoid organ . Therefore in this study, the recruited lymphomyeloid cells were isolated from the liver of C57BL/6 mice at the peak of the immune response (day 7) triggered by a non-lethal L.monocytogenes infection . The anti-Listeria T lymphocytes were detected in vivo by their ability to transfer protection and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to live L.monocytogenes in naive recipients: protection was measured not only by the effect on reduction of the bacterial load in liver and spleen, but also on survival after the lethal challenge, and DTH was detected using as eliciting antigen, either live L.monocytogenes or heat-killed L.monocytogenes . When live pathogens were used, both functions were found to be mediated by T lymphocytes belonging to the CD8+ subset . However, when heat-killed L.monocytogenes were used as eliciting antigen in the DTH assay, Listeria-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes could not be restimulated in immune lymphoid cell populations recovered either from liver or spleen of Listeria-infected mice . Both populations were thus found to share the same qualitative properties in the DTH assay . The importance of the use of live pathogens versus heat-killed pathogens for detection of DTH and protection functions is discussed in the light of current concepts on processing and presentation pathways of Listeria-derived peptides. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1992 May, 58(5), 1564 - 8 Use of polymerase chain reaction for detection of Listeria monocytogenes in food; Niederhauser C et al.; A previously described polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay (B . Furrer, U . Candrian, C . Hofelein, and J . Luthy, J . Appl . Bacteriol . 70:372-379, 1991) was used to analyze food for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes . Food samples were artificially contaminated to develop two procedures to detect the organism following enrichment steps . Procedure A was based on dilution of the enrichment broth followed by lysis of the bacteria and direct analysis of the lysate with PCR . With procedure A and artificially contaminated food samples, it was possible to detect fewer than 10 bacteria per 10 g of food . In procedure B, centrifugation was used to concentrate bacteria before lysis and PCR . With procedure A, 330 naturally contaminated food samples of several types were analyzed . Twenty samples were found to be positive for L . monocytogenes, which was in agreement with the classical culture technique . By using procedure B on a subset of 100 food samples, 14 were found to be positive by PCR whereas the classical culture method detected only 13 . Analysis times, including enrichment steps, were 56 and 32 h with procedures A and B, respectively. J Infect, 1992 May, 24(3), 277 - 87 Feto-maternal listeriosis in Denmark 1981-1988; Frederiksen B et al.; We collected clinical information about 30 cases of Listeria monocytogenes infections in pregnancy, which occurred in Denmark between 1981 and 1988 . The incidence of feto-maternal listeriosis was approximately one case per 100,000 live births in the early 1980s but increased to 25.3 cases per 100,000 live births in 1986 . Listeriosis in Denmark occurred in two different patterns: endemic, in which the feto-maternal cases were a small proportion of the total, and epidemic: cases due to strains which were indistinguishable by phage-typing, and having a higher proportion of feto-maternal cases, as was seen in the outbreak of 1985-1987 . The study group comprised 11 cases of intra-uterine death, three of maternal septicaemia without infection of the fetus and 16 cases of neonatal infection . Most neonates were ill at birth or became so within the first 24 h . The overall mortality rate among liveborn infants was 10.5% (2/19). South Med J, 1992 May, 85(5), 554 - 6 Listerial brain abscess in long-standing sarcoidosis; Poropatich R et al.; A 50-year-old black man with steroid-dependent stage IV sarcoidosis and a prior seizure attributed to neurosarcoidosis had progressive disorientation, ataxia, cranial neuropathies, and increased dyspnea . Neuroradiologic evaluation showed a ring-enhancing lesion in the left basal ganglion causing a mass effect . Craniotomy yielded purulent material that grew a pure culture of Listeria monocytogenes . He responded well to antibiotic therapy. EMBO J, 1992 May, 11(5), 1981 - 90 A novel bacterial virulence gene in Listeria monocytogenes required for host cell microfilament interaction with homology to the proline-rich region of vinculin; Domann E et al.; The ability of Listeria monocytogenes to move within the cytosol of infected cells and their ability to infect adjacent cells is important in the development of infection foci leading to systemic disease . Interaction with the host cell microfilament system, particularly actin, appears to be the basis for propelling the bacteria through the host cell cytoplasm to generate the membraneous protrusions whereby cell-to-cell spread occurs . The actA locus of L.monocytogenes encodes a 90 kDa polypeptide that is a key component of bacterium-host cell microfilament interactions . Cloning of the actA gene allowed the identification of its gene product and permitted construction of an isogenic mutant strain defective in the production of the ActA polypeptide . Sequencing of the region encoding the actA gene revealed that it was located region encoding the actA gene revealed that it was located between the metalloprotease (mpl) and phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (plcB) genes . Within the cytoplasm of the infected cells, the mutant strain grew as microcolonies, was unable to accumulate actin following escape from the phagocytic compartment and was incapable of infecting adjacent cells . It was also dramatically less virulent, demonstrating that the capacity to move intracellularly and spread intercellularly is a key determinant of L.monocytogenes virulence . Like all other virulence factors described for this microorganism, expression of the ActA polypeptide is controlled by the PrfA regulator protein . The primary sequence of this protein appeared to be unique with no extended homology to known protein sequences . However, an internal repeat sequence showed strong regional homology to a sequence from within the hinge region of the cytoskeletal protein vinculin. Infect Immun, 1992 May, 60(5), 1875 - 82 Protective immunity and granuloma formation are mediated by two distinct tumor necrosis factor alpha- and gamma interferon-dependent T cell-phagocyte interactions in murine listeriosis: dissociation on the basis of phagocyte adhesion mechanisms; Mielke ME et al.; Listeria-immune mice are able to express protective immunity in the absence of CD4+ T cells and an apparent granulomatous inflammation . Using a monoclonal antibody (5C6) able to inhibit the recruitment of myelomonocytic cells into inflammatory foci by binding to complement receptor type 3 (CR3/CD11b), we could show that protective immunity and granuloma formation indeed depend on two distinct types of T cell-phagocyte interactions . Listeria-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes, possibly in collaboration with CD4- CD8- T cells, rapidly interact with myelomonocytic cells infiltrating infected tissues in a CR3/CD11b-dependent manner . This interaction results in potent antilisterial protection but not in granuloma formation . On the contrary, CD4+ T cells are able to induce adhesion mechanisms that allow the accumulation of monocytes in granulomatous lesions even in the presence of monoclonal antibody 5C6 . However, the protective capacity of these CR3/CD11b-independent T cell-mediated immune mechanisms is low in listeriosis . Tumor necrosis factor alpha and gamma interferon, known to be essential for the expression of both resistance and acquired immunity, are shown to be necessarily involved in granuloma formation, too . It therefore remains to be explained why CD8+ T cells, able to secrete both cytokines, do not induce granuloma formation . The data point to the presence of an as yet undefined CD4+ T cell-derived granuloma-inducing factor and favor the hypothesis that CD8+ T cells, in collaboration with circulating phagocytes, mediate immunity by rapidly liberating listeriae from permissive cells or protecting them from becoming infected. Zhonghua Min Guo Wei Sheng Wu Ji Mian Yi Xue Za Zhi, 1992 May, 25(2), 101 - 7 Detection of Listeria monocytogenes by non-radioactive RNA probe and polymerase chain reaction; Wong HC et al.; A HindIII fragment, 651-base-pair, from the listeriolysin 0 gene of Listeria monocytogenes was cloned into pGEM4Z . Radioactive 32P labeled and non-radioactive digoxigenin labeled RNA probes were made by in vitro transcriptions . These probes hybridized only to L . monocytogenes strains . Polymerase chain reaction was performed by using a 22-mer and a 23-mer oligonucleotide primer, and segment of about 700-base-pair was amplified only in L . monocytogenes strains and this band was visualized by hybridization with the non-radioactive probe. Infect Immun, 1992 May, 60(5), 1813 - 9 Listeria monocytogenes activation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes: induction of non-major histocompatibility complex-restricted cytotoxic activity and cytokine production; Guo Y et al.; Gram-negative bacteria have been shown to activate human natural killer (NK) cells . In this report, we show that the gram-positive bacterium Listeria monocytogenes can also activate human NK cells with regard to non-major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted killing and the production of cytokines . Overnight incubation of peripheral blood mononuclear (PBM) cells or enriched NK cell populations with live or Formalin-fixed L . monocytogenes resulted in high levels of non-MHC-restricted cytotoxic activity . Listeria-stimulated non-MHC-restricted cytotoxic activity could be achieved with pathogenic as well as nonpathogenic Listeria strains . PBM cells also produced tumor necrosis factor alpha and different interferons (IFNs) after incubation with Listeria strains . Optimal cytokine production appeared to be dependent on nylon wool- and plastic-adherent cells . Different IFNs were produced by Listeria-stimulated PBM cells obtained from different donors . IFN-gamma was always produced but was sometimes associated with IFN-alpha and/or IFN-beta . Interleukin-2 (IL-2) activity was never detected in culture supernatants obtained from Listeria-stimulated PBM cell cultures . However, IL-2 appeared to be produced by Listeria-stimulated PBM cells, since antibody to IL-2 inhibited Listeria-stimulated NK cell cytotoxic activity . Listeria activation of NK cell cytotoxic activity was also dependent on tumor necrosis factor alpha production . Antibody to IFN-gamma, IFN-beta, or IFN-alpha had no effect on Listeria-stimulated NK cell cytotoxic activity . These results demonstrate that NK cells can be activated by Listeria strains and add further evidence that NK cells may play an important role in host defense against bacterial infections. Rev Paul Med, 1992 May-Jun, 110(3), 102 - 7 Study of interactions between Listeria monocytogenes and experimental tumors; Krybus J et al.; OBJECTIVE--to verify the effects of Listeria monocytogenes (LM) inoculation in the survival of animals bearing Ehrlich's tumor . KIND OF STUDY--experimental . Animals-isogenic mice, Balb/c, female, 19-21 g . Tumor-Ascitic Ehrlich's tumor, dilution of 5 x 10(5) cells/0.1 ml . Bacteria-LM serotype 4a, solution with 7 x 10(3) bacteria (standard sub-lethal dose) . Intervention-a) inoculation of LM in mice bearing Ehrlich tumor at the same time as ascitic cells transplantation . b) inoculation of LM seven days before and, again, seven and fourteen days after ascitic cells transplantation . c) to study the effect of using ampicillin 100 mg/kg, im, simultaneously with the inoculation of Ehrlich tumor and LM organisms and, again, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21 and 30 days after the ascitic cells transplantation . ANALYSIS--Chi-square test; p < 0.05 RESULTS AND CONCLUSION--LM increases significantly the survival of mice bearing Ehrlich tumor even when only one inoculum of viable LM was used, seven days before or seven days after the ascitic cells transplantation . The use of ampicillin after the inoculation of LM and tumor transplantation does not alter the survival of mice. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand, 1992 May, 71(4), 313 - 5 Maternal septicemia with Listeria monocytogenes in second trimester without infection of the fetus; Frederiksen B; Two cases of septicemia with Listeria monocytogenes in two pregnant women at the 20th and 23rd weeks of pregnancy, respectively, are presented . The women had delays of 8 and 10 days from onset of symptoms to diagnosis and adequate treatment . Outcome was favorable; both women delivered healthy infants at term. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen, 1992 Apr 30, 112(11), 1451 - 2 {Perinatal listeriosis}; Tollan A et al.; Human listeriosis is a rare disease . It may be foodborne . Listeric infection during pregnancy may give a fatal fetal outcome, caused by transplacental passage of organisms from the maternal gastrointestinal tract . We describe a case of perinatal listeriosis which resulted in preterm stillbirth . Perinatal listeriosis should be considered when flue-like symptoms are presented during pregnancy . Early diagnosis and treatment may improve the outcome. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 1992 Apr 17, 41(15), 251, 257 - 8 Update: foodborne listeriosis--United States, 1988-1990; Processing and presentation of self and foreign antigens by the renal proximal tubule; Department of Medicine, Jewish Hospital of St . Louis, MOThe renal proximal tubule (PT) in many ways resembles an APC . The PT is one of the few epithelial cells in the body reported to constitutively express the class II MHC molecules required to present Ag to CD4+ T cells . We questioned whether the PT could function as an APC in vitro and in vivo . Fluorescence cytometry demonstrated that the normal CBA/J PT constitutively expressed low levels of class II MHC and that this expression was markedly augmented by either IFN-gamma or systemic Listeria monocytogenes infection . Functionally, the PT from normal CBA/J mice also stimulated T cell hybridomas when cultured in vitro with Ag, and this ability was markedly up-regulated by both IFN-gamma as well as L . monocytogenes infection . To prove that the PT constitutively processed and presented self Ag in vivo, freshly isolated PT from mice transgenic for human alpha 1-antitrypsin were cultured with the appropriate T cell hybridoma in the absence of exogenous Ag . Strong stimulation of the T cell hybridoma occurred . Our data show that the renal proximal tubule processes and presents foreign Ag both in vitro and in vivo, and that it constitutively processes and presents the self Ag hAAT in vivo . These results have important implications for the understanding of renal interstitial autoimmune diseases as well as the interstitial nephritis that occurs in response to foreign Ag. JAMA, 1992 Apr 15, 267(15), 2046 - 50 Role of foods in sporadic listeriosis . II . Microbiologic and epidemiologic investigation . The Listeria Study Group; Pinner RW et al.; OBJECTIVE--To evaluate the role of foods in sporadic listeriosis . DESIGN--Microbiologic survey of foods collected from refrigerators of patients with listeriosis identified through active laboratory-based surveillance . Patient and food Listeria monocytogenes isolates were subtyped to identify foods contaminated with the same strain of L monocytogenes that caused illness in the patient; samples of these foods were obtained from the retail source . SETTING--Multistate population-based study conducted between 1988 and 1990 . RESULTS--Listeria monocytogenes grew from at least one food specimen in the refrigerators of 79 (64%) of 123 listeriosis patients; 11% of more than 2000 food specimens collected in the study contained L monocytogenes . Twenty-six (33%) of 79 refrigerators with foods that grew L monocytogenes contained at least one food isolate of the same strain as that in the corresponding patient, a frequency much higher than would be expected by chance (P less than .001) . Multivariate analysis showed that of the food specimens that grew L monocytogenes, foods that were ready-to-eat, foods that grew L monocytogenes by a direct-plating method (a measure of the level of contamination), and foods that contained serotype 4b isolates were independently associated with an increased likelihood of containing the patient-matching strain . CONCLUSION--We identified specific food and L monocytogenes isolate characteristics--ready-to-eat foods, foods containing higher concentrations of L monocytogenes, and foods containing serotype 4b--which were associated with disease-causing strains . These results can provide guidance to industry and regulatory agencies in developing strategies to prevent listeriosis. JAMA, 1992 Apr 15, 267(15), 2041 - 5 Role of foods in sporadic listeriosis . I . Case-control study of dietary risk factors . The Listeria Study Group; Schuchat A et al.; OBJECTIVE--To identify dietary risk factors for sporadic listeriosis . DESIGN--Case-control study with blinded telephone interviews . SETTING--Multistate population of 18 million persons, November 1988 through December 1990 . PARTICIPANTS--One hundred sixty-five patients with culture-confirmed listeriosis and 376 control subjects matched for age, health care provider, and immunosuppressive condition . RESULTS--The annual incidence of invasive listeriosis was 7.4 cases per million population; 23% of the infections were fatal . Cases were more likely than matched controls to have eaten soft cheeses (odds ratio {OR}, 2.6; 95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.4 to 4.8; P = .002) or food purchased from store delicatessen counters (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.0 to 2.5; P = .04); 32% of sporadic disease could be attributed to eating these foods . Sixty-nine percent of cases in men and nonpregnant women occurred in cancer patients, persons with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, organ transplant recipients, or those receiving corticosteroid therapy . Among these immunosuppressed patients, eating undercooked chicken also increased the risk of listeriosis (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.2 to 9.2; P = .02) . CONCLUSIONS--Foodborne transmission may account for a substantial portion of sporadic listeriosis . Prevention efforts should include dietary counseling of high-risk patients and continued monitoring of food production. Immunol Lett, 1992 Apr, 32(2), 185 - 9 Effects of administration of murine recombinant IL-4 on the resistance of mice to Listeria monocytogenes infection; Iizawa Y et al.; Mice given recombinant murine interleukin-4 as a single i.v . bolus concomitant with a Listeria monocytogenes challenge did not display increased anti-listeria resistance . Under certain conditions, IL-4 administration slightly increased the bacterial burdens in the spleens and livers of infected mice . This finding is consistent with previous reports that endogenous IL-4, or transfer of IL-4 producing TH2 cells, can be detrimental to host defense against microbial infection. Zentralbl Bakteriol, 1992 Apr, 276(4), 530 - 9 Delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH): studies on necrotising DTH-reactions against listerial antigen in the skin of guinea pigs; Abou-Rebyeh H et al.; Delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) to facultative intracellular bacteria which leads to destructive skin reactions was so far only investigated against mycobacterial antigens in guinea pigs whereas this work investigates destructive DTH-reactions in the skin of guinea pigs which are directed against listerial antigens . Toxic factors of viable listerias induced an enhancement of destructive skin reactions in non-immunised guinea pigs as compared to immunised ones . In contrast, heat killed listerias (HKL) induced necrotising skin reactions in immunised and non-immunised guinea pigs which were significantly enhanced by DTH in immunised guinea pigs . 5 days after immunisation, necrotising reactivity was maximal and increased in a dose-dependent mode with higher amounts of HKL . Listeria-specific T-cells were able to interact specifically with allogeneic macrophages in vitro . By means of adoptive transfer of listeria-specific T-cells it was possible to transfer successfully Listeria-specific DTH-reactivity from immunised donors to non-immunised recipients. Neth J Med, 1992 Apr, 40(3-4), 197 - 9 Fatal septicaemia due to Listeria monocytogenes in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus receiving cyclosporin and high prednisone doses; Giunta G et al.; Cyclosporin A is widely used in organ transplantation, preventing the rejection of multiple types of organ allografts . It is also being increasingly used as an immunosuppressive agent to treat various autoimmune diseases in patients refractory to more commonly used immunosuppressive therapy . Several trials are currently evaluating the utility of this drug associated with corticosteroids in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus . This case, describing a lethal septicaemia caused by Listeria monocytogenes in a patient receiving this treatment, seems to indicate that the use of these "cocktails" of immunosuppressive drugs should be particularly cautious to prevent fatal infectious complications. J Gen Microbiol, 1992 Apr, 138 ( Pt 4), 743 - 53 Analysis of surface proteins of Listeria in relation to species, serovar and pathogenicity; Tabouret M et al.; SDS extracts of whole bacteria, representing five species and 15 serovars of Listeria, were analysed by SDS-PAGE and by immunoblotting with serum directed against whole formalin-treated L . monocytogenes . Profiles of L . monocytogenes were very different from those of other species of Listeria (i.e . L . innocua,L.welshimeri, L . seeligeri and L . ivanovii) . This low degree of similarity between species was found even in the case of common serovars . Within the species L . monocytogenes, protein patterns were characterized, on the one hand, by a high degree of homogeneity between all strains of the same serovar and, on the other hand, by large differences between serovars, especially between sv . 1/2 and 4b . Thus we have identified major, surface-located protein antigens, specific for L . monocytogenes, either common to all serovars (64 and 68 kDa) or characteristic of certain serovars: 98 kDa for sv . 1/2 and 3; 76 and 78 kDa for sv . 4b, 4d and 4e; and 80 and 100 kDa for sv . 4a and 4c . Moreover, some of these bands (68 and 98 kDa) might be related to virulence, since differences were noticed between the profiles of haemolytic L . monocytogenes vs . 1/2a differing only in their virulence for immunocompromised mice . All these results confirmed, for the first time, the classification of Listeria obtained previously by genomic studies . They should help in the identification of new virulence factors and the development of easier and more specific methods of detection and identification. J Leukoc Biol, 1992 Apr, 51(4), 421 - 4 Effector function of hepatocytes and Kupffer cells in the resolution of systemic bacterial infections; Gregory SH et al.; It has been suggested that mononuclear phagocytes serve as the principal site of replication for a number of intracellular pathogens including Listeria monocytogenes . To determine the role of the tissue macrophages (Kupffer cells) in the proliferation of Listeria taken up in the liver, the hepatic cell populations were purified and the associated bacteria were quantified at periodic intervals postinfection . Here we report that the bulk of Listeria injected intravenously into nonimmune mice replicated within hepatocytes rather than Kupffer cells . Whereas a 200-fold increase in the number of hepatocyte-associated Listeria occurred during the first 3 days following infection, a relatively small (less than 2-fold) increase in number of Kupffer cell-associated Listeria was observed . The Listeria injected intravenously into immune animals, on the other hand, were eliminated rapidly from the hepatocyte as well as the Kupffer cell population . The latter findings suggest that uptake and elimination of pathogenic organisms by "non-professional phagocytes" in the liver (i.e., hepatocytes) may be an important effector mechanism in host defenses. Infect Immun, 1992 Apr, 60(4), 1625 - 32 Pathogenicity and immunogenicity of Listeria monocytogenes small-plaque mutants defective for intracellular growth and cell-to-cell spread; Barry RA et al.; Listeria monocytogenes strains previously generated by transposon mutagenesis were examined with respect to virulence and induction of protective immunity in BALB/c mice . The phenotypic defects observed in these mutant L . monocytogenes strains included decreased hemolysin (listeriolysin O {LLO}) production, phospholipase C activity, intracellular growth, and/or cell-to-cell spread in vitro . While 50% lethal dose determinations performed with these mutant strains indicated reduced virulence for BALB/c mice, sublethal infection with the majority of these mutant strains provided protection against a subsequent challenge with the fully virulent L . monocytogenes parent strain . In addition, in vitro infection of the J774 cell line with most of these mutant strains converted these phagocytic cells to targets of L . monocytogenes-immune cytotoxic cells . The exceptions to these findings were two LLO-negative, avirulent mutant strains which were unable to immunize mice against a secondary challenge with virulent L . monocytogenes . One of these mutants contained a transposon insertion within the structural gene for LLO, and the other contained a transposon insertion in the structural gene for the transcriptional activator of the LLO gene . These two LLO-negative mutant strains also were unable to escape phagolysosomes in infected J774 cells and could not transform these phagocytic cells into targets of L . monocytogenes-immune cytotoxic cells . These findings confirm the importance of LLO in the induction of antilisterial immunity and suggest that a cytoplasmic localization of these pathogenic bacteria is required for the development of protective immunity. Infect Immun, 1992 Apr, 60(4), 1415 - 21 Hemolysin-producing Listeria monocytogenes affects the immune response to T-cell-dependent and T-cell-independent antigens; Hage-Chahine CM et al.; A murine experimental infection with a hemolysin-producing (Hly+) strain of Listeria monocytogenes and a non-hemolysin-producing (Hly-) mutant was used as an in vivo model to evaluate the role of hemolysin production in the immune response . No antilisterial antibodies were detectable following sublethal infection with Hly+ bacteria, but consistent antilisterial immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibody production was observed following sublethal infection with the Hly- mutant . Hly+ but not Hly- L . monocytogenes induced transient inhibition of antibody response to Hly- bacteria and to unrelated T-cell-dependent (tetanus toxoid) and T-cell-independent (pneumococcal polysaccharide 3) antigens . Transient inhibition of the activation of an antigen-specific T-cell clone was also observed following Hly+ infection of antigen-presenting cells but not following Hly- infection . These results suggest that hemolysin production by L . monocytogenes is an important factor in modulating the immune response to T-cell-dependent and T-cell-independent antigens in infected individuals. Mol Cell Probes, 1992 Apr, 6(2), 119 - 29 Development of cell surface protein associated gene probe specific for Listeria monocytogenes and detection of the bacteria in food by PCR; Wang RF et al.; A genomic library of L . monocytogenes was constructed using lambda Zap II-Eco RI and screened with a monoclonal antibody which is specific for a Listeria cell surface protein . Three positive clones each contained a 6.5 kb insert which in E . coli could express the same Listeria protein . The 6.5 kb insert was further digested with Hin dIII and the smaller fragments were subcloned into a plasmid vector (pBluescript) and screened with 32P-labelled genomic DNA from L . monocytogenes or L . innocua . Three clones which were positive with L . monocytogenes and negative with L . innocua were screened and each contained a 2.1 kb insert . The 2.1 kb insert was partly sequenced and some candidate oligomer probes from the sequences were selected and compared with sequences in a Genbank computer search . One such oligomer probe (T7-list) was confirmed to be specific for L . monocytogenes . The probe hybridized with all 28 strains of L . monocytogenes tested, but not with any of six other Listeria species nor 11 other bacteria tested . Using this probe-primer, a PCR method was developed which could detect as few as 2 cfu of L . monocytogenes in pure cultures, and as few as 4-10 cfu of L . monocytogenes when inoculated into foods. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1992 Apr, 11(4), 346 - 9 Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes: two case reports and literature review; Polanco A et al.; Two new cases of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) caused by Listeria monocytogenes are reported . Listeria monocytogenes was recovered from the ascitic fluid but not from the blood cultures of two adult diabetic inpatients with hepatic cirrhosis and SBP that had been treated empirically with cefotaxime . These two cases add to the 17 cases of Listeria monocytogenes SBP reported previously, stressing the relevance of this microorganism to this clinical condition . The recovery of Listeria monocytogenes from blood has been achieved in only half of the cases reported, suggesting the possibility of a direct translocation mechanism . Combinations of amino- or ureidopenicillins with beta-lactamase inhibitors or carbapenems might be more effective as empiric therapy of SBP in cirrhotic patients. Clin Infect Dis, 1992 Apr, 14(4), 815 - 21 Clinical presentation and outcome of listeriosis in patients with and without immunosuppressive therapy; Skogberg K et al.; Seventy-four cases of systemic listeriosis occurring from 1971 to 1989 in the greater Helsinki area in Finland are reviewed with a special interest in the effect of preceding immunosuppressive therapy on the clinical presentation . Of these patients, 66% had an underlying disease, most commonly malignancy, diabetes mellitus, or renal transplantation, and 43% had received immunosuppressive therapy within 1 week before onset of listeriosis . Bacteremia and central nervous system infections (both in 43% of cases) were the most common clinical entities . The percentage of patients with meningitis was not greater among immunosuppressed patients (13/32, 41%) than among patients with underlying diseases not treated with immunosuppressive agents (9/16, 56%) or among previously healthy nonpregnant hosts (7/11, 64%) . Immunosuppressed patients did not die more frequently than did those with underlying diseases not treated with immunosuppressive therapy (case fatality rate, 29% vs . 38%, respectively) . However, all previously healthy non-neonatal patients survived, whereas 32% (15/47) of those with any kind of underlying disease succumbed. J Exp Med, 1992 Mar 1, 175(3), 797 - 807 Intraepithelial airway dendritic cells: a distinct subset of pulmonary dendritic cells obtained by microdissection; Gong JL et al.; Dendritic cells (DC), in general, and pulmonary DC, in particular, are a heterogeneous population of cells, their phenotype and function being dependent on their anatomic location, their state of activation, and the regulatory effect of locally secreted cytokines . Using a novel microdissection technique, the epithelium from the trachea and entire airway system was harvested, and the contained DC isolated at greater than 90% purity . The phenotype and function of these airway DC (ADC) was compared to DC isolated, at greater than 90% purity, from the parenchyma of the same lung . In contrast to lung DC (LDC), ADC did not express intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in situ, the amount of immune associated antigen (Ia) expressed was less (as determined by immunoperoxidase staining and immunopanning), and greater than 50% of ADC displayed Fc receptors (FcR) . The majority of LDC were ICAM-1+, less than 5% expressed FcR, and all were intensely Ia+ . Airway DC were most numerous in tracheal epithelium, but they were also present in small numbers in the epithelium of the most distal airways . Their numbers increased in all segments of the tracheobronchial epithelium in response to the administration of IFN-gamma . ADC were consistently more effective than LDC in presenting soluble (hen egg lysozyme) and particulate (heat-killed Listeria monocytogenes) antigens to antigen-sensitized T cells . By contrast, LDC were significantly more efficient in stimulating the proliferation of nonsensitized T cells in an autologous mixed leukocyte reaction . These data suggest that in normal animals, intraepithelial DC of airways share many attributes with Langerhans cells of the skin . Interstitial LDC, by contrast, reside in an environment where they may be exposed to a different set of regulatory factors and where they have progressed to a more advanced stage of differentiation than ADC . Both groups of DC are, however, heterogeneous, reflecting the continuous turnover that these cells undergo in the lung. Cell Immunol, 1992 Mar, 140(1), 42 - 53 Protective immunity and granulomatous inflammation is mediated in vivo by T cells reactive to epitopes common to avirulent and listeriolysin-negative mutants of Listeria monocytogenes; Brocke S et al.; The ability of several listeriolysin O-negative mutants of the EGD and NCTC 7973 strains of Listeria monocytogenes to activate specific T cell responses in vitro and in vivo was determined . T cell lines from different inbred mouse strains and derived T cell clones elicited by L . monocytogenes, strain EGD, which are able to adoptively transfer protection and granuloma formation were examined . Specificity testing revealed no differences between listeriolysin-positive and -negative strains to induce proliferation of the T cell lines and clones . Similar results were obtained when we examined CD4+ T cell-mediated granuloma formation in the livers of mice previously immunized with viable bacteria of the virulent strain . Granulomatous inflammation could be elicited by iv application of heat-killed bacteria of listeriolysin-positive and of -negative bacteria . Protective immunity to listerial infections and granulomatous inflammation therefore appears to be mediated by T cells recognizing epitopes on listerial antigens that are shared by both pathogenic and nonpathogenic Listeria strains. Cell Immunol, 1992 Mar, 140(1), 21 - 30 Induction of macrophage interleukin-1 production by Listeria monocytogenes hemolysin; Tsukada H et al.; Listeriolysin O produced by a hemolytic strain of Listeria monocytogenes was purified from the ammonium sulfate precipitate of a culture supernatant through the steps of ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration . The purified hemolysin finally gave a single band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with a molecular weight of 58,000 . When peritoneal exudate macrophages were stimulated with purified hemolysin, we found a high level of IL-1 activity as determined by thymocyte costimulator assay in the culture supernatant . Cell-associated and intracellular IL-1 activity was also detected . The activity in the supernatant or membrane was blocked by polyclonal antibody to murine IL-1 alpha . Moreover, IL-1-specific mRNA expression could be detected in the macrophages stimulated with listeriolysin O by Northern blot analysis . Possible contamination by LPS of the listeriolysin O preparation did not seem to contribute to the induction of macrophage IL-1 production. Am J Vet Res, 1992 Mar, 53(3), 368 - 71 Epidemiologic investigation of a silage-associated epizootic of ovine listeric encephalitis, using a new Listeria-selective enumeration medium and phage typing; Vazquez-Boland JA et al.; The role of silage feeding in the origin of an epizootic of encephalitic listeriosis in a sheep flock was investigated by use of a new direct Listeria-selective isolation and enumeration medium, in combination with serotyping and phage typing . The silage contained high numbers (about 10(6) cells/g) of a L monocytogenes strain indistinguishable with respect to serovar and phagovar from that isolated from the brains of sick sheep . These results provided unambiguous bacteriologic evidence of the epidemiologic link between silage consumption and listeriosis in ruminants. Ceylon Med J, 1992 Mar, 37(1), 21 - 3 Two cases of listeriosis; Wijesundera CD et al.; This is the second report of listeriosis in Sri Lanke . It is a disease with a changing clinical pattern . Most cases are from people at the extremes of age and from people with an underlying malignancy of the lymphoproliferative and renal transplant patients . But it is now being increasingly reported in previously healthy people . The two cases presented here are from previously healthy children . Both of them also manifested a rash which helped in the detection of the second case . A rash has not been described in the literature as characteristic or a common feature other than in neo-natal listeriosis. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1992 Mar 1, 200(5), 711 - 4 Bovine abortions attributable to Listeria ivanovii: four cases (1988-1990); Alexander AV et al.; During a 3-year period, 4 cases of bovine abortion attributable to Listeria ivanovii were diagnosed from 243 bovine fetuses submitted for diagnostic evaluation . Listeria monocytogenes was isolated only once from a bovine fetus during this same time period . Pathologic findings were similar to those seen in abortions attributable to L monocytogenes . Consistent management factors were not recognized and breed susceptibility was not apparent . Listeria ivanovii is most often associated with abortions from sheep and is rarely reported from cattle . On the basis of findings in this study, L ivanovii must be included as a potential cause of bovine abortions. J Clin Periodontol, 1992 Mar, 19(3), 202 - 7 Efficacy of Listerine, Meridol and chlorhexidine mouthrinses as supplements to regular tooth cleaning measures; Brecx M et al.; The anti-plaque, anti-gingivitis and anti-microbial efficacies of a phenolic compound (Listerine) and 2 different amine/stannous fluoride mouthwashes (Meridol I, II) were compared when these solutions were used in addition to usual tooth cleaning . A placebo preparation was utilized as a negative control and a chlorhexidine solution as a positive control in this double-blind study . After professional tooth cleaning, 49 volunteers continued their habitual, self-performed and non-supervised oral hygiene for a period of 2 weeks, in order to have a more standard baseline . At day 0, they began to rinse twice daily with 1 of the 5 mouthwashes . After 3 weeks of rinsing, plaque indices remained the lowest in the chlorhexidine and the Meridol I groups, while subjects using Listerine or Meridol II demonstrated similar indices significantly lower than that of individuals rinsing with the placebo solution . Through this period, the gingival index scores were similar in the Meridol, Listerine and chlorhexidine groups . At day 21, the mean GI scores in the chlorhexidine group were significantly lower than the scores in the placebo group . The plaque vitality scores showed a bacterial effect in vivo of chlorhexidine and, to a lesser extent, of the Meridol solutions . No substantial evidence of an antibacterial effect in vivo was found for Listerine . This study has demonstrated that when mouthrinses are used to supplement habitual mechanical oral hygiene, chlorhexidine remains the most powerful solution . Furthermore, it was also shown that a combination of habitual self-performed and non-supervised oral hygiene with Meridol or Listerine is more beneficial for plaque control than the use of mechanical oral hygiene alone. Infect Immun, 1992 Mar, 60(3), 951 - 7 Roles of Listeria monocytogenes virulence factors in survival: virulence factors distinct from listeriolysin are needed for the organism to survive an early neutrophil-mediated host defense mechanism; Conlan JW et al.; Avirulent mutant strains of Listeria monocytogenes which fail to produce phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, or which produce reduced amounts of hemolytic listeriolysin O, are incapable of causing progressive infection in normal mice . However, both strains can grow progressively in mice that have been rendered incapable of focusing neutrophils at sites of infection as a result of being treated with monoclonal antibody 5C6, specific for the type 3 complement receptor of myelomonocytic cells . In 5C6-treated mice, phospholipase C-negative and listeriolysin-defective mutant strains of L . monocytogenes, like the wild-type strain, give rise in the liver to large numbers of discrete foci of infected hepatocytes that retain their morphological integrity during the first 24 h, despite their large bacterial burden . In normal mice, in contrast, sites of infection in the liver are indicated by discrete focal accumulations of neutrophils that occupy the space originally occupied by infected hepatocytes . It is apparent that in normal mice neutrophils function to lyse infected hepatocytes and thereby to release L . monocytogenes for ingestion and killing by neutrophils themselves and by macrophages . However, whereas a proportion of wild-type organisms survive this early mechanism of defense to give rise to progressive infection, the phospholipase C-negative organisms are totally eliminated . On the basis of these and other results, it is suggested that virulence factors other than listeriolysin are needed by L . monocytogenes to counteract the early neutrophil-mediated mechanism of defense . Listeriolysin, itself, is an intrinsic virulence factor that allows L . monocytogenes to survive and multiply in a proportion of the fixed phagocytes of the liver (permissive phagocytes) and which enables the organism to go on to infect and replicate in adjacent hepatocytes . It was found that a mutant strain of L . monocytogenes incapable of producing any listeriolysin was incapable of establishing progressive infection, even in 5C6-treated mice. J Immunol, 1992 Mar 1, 148(5), 1486 - 92 Type I IL-1 receptor blockade exacerbates murine listeriosis; Havell EA et al.; It was found that IL-1 is produced in livers and spleens of mice shortly after the i.v . injection of a sublethal or lethal Listeria monocytogenes inoculum . In sublethally infected mice, IL-1 was present in infected livers and spleens by the end of the first day of infection . Thereafter, the amounts of IL-1 in these organs increased and decreased in concordance with bacterial numbers . IL-1 was not present in the peripheral circulation of mice during sublethal listeriosis, but was present in the blood late in lethal infection . Evidence showing that IL-1 plays a role in antibacterial resistance early in listeriosis was obtained through the use of 35F5 mAb that binds to the murine type I IL-1R and functions to block IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta actions . Blockade of the type I IL-1R by the 35F5 mAb results in greatly enhanced bacterial growth in the livers and spleens of mice that had received a sublethal Listeria inoculum . Consistent with the exacerbation of listeriosis caused by 35F5 mAb, but in contrast to the effect of 35F5 mAb in other murine models, 35F5 mAb-treated mice exhibit markedly elevated levels of IL-6 in their circulation and infected organs. Nagoya J Med Sci, 1992 Mar, 54(1-4), 11 - 26 Regulatory role of heat shock protein-specific T cells in host defense; Yoshikai Y; During infection with L.monocytogenes, a facultative intracellular bacteria, TcR gamma/delta T cells specific for 65 kd hsp precede TcR alpha/beta T cells specific for the listerial antigens in appearance . The gamma/delta T cells provide a first line of defense against the infection by recognizing exogenous and endogenous 65 kd hsp on infected cells and producing cytokines such as gamma IFN . The hsp-specific T cells respond quickly to antigenically diverse pathogens before antigen-specific T cells expand clonally, and they play a role in covering the gap between the phagocytic system and highly evolved immune response . 65 kd hsp-specific T cells play important roles not only in host defense mechanism against infection with various pathogens but also in induction of auto-immune disease . Both 65 kd hsp-specific gamma delta T cells and 65 kd hsp-specific alpha beta T cells abrogate the unresponsiveness of the self-reactive alpha beta T cells and/or B cells by producing IL-2 and contribute to induction of autoimmune disease. Int J Food Microbiol, 1992 Mar-Apr, 15(3-4), 339 - 46 Behavior of Listeria monocytogenes during processing and storage of experimentally contaminated hot-smoked trout; Jemmi T et al.; Hot-smoked fish like smoked trout is quite frequently contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes . In order to estimate the potential health hazard for the consumer eating such products, the behavior of L . monocytogenes was studied during processing and storage of artificially-inoculated hot-smoked trout . Four trials were performed; in trials 1 and 3 a wild-type strain was used, while in trials 2 and 4 a serological reference strain, SLCC 2755, was used . In the first two trials, raw trout was surface inoculated with L . monocytogenes, marinated, hot-smoked (core temperature 65 degrees C during 20 min), and stored at 4 and 8-10 degrees C, respectively, for up to 20 days . At different times during processing and storage, samples were taken and, by means of a MPN-method, quantitatively analysed for L . monocytogenes . The initial Listeria levels in the trout were 10(6) MPN/g . Until smoking, the concentrations remained about the same . After the hot-smoking process and during storage, however, L . monocytogenes could no longer be detected . In trials 3 and 4, the trout were inoculated after hot-smoking at a final concentration of 4.5 x 10(1) MPN/g and 3.1 x 10(1) MPN/g, respectively . During storage at 4 degrees C, neither an increase nor a decrease of L . monocytogenes was observed . At 8-10 degrees C, however, a significant increase up to 10(7) MPN/g occurred . By hot-smoking, low level contaminations of raw fish with L . monocytogenes will easily be eliminated . Nevertheless, it is of great importance to prevent postprocessing contamination, because during storage at refrigeration temperatures growth of L . monocytogenes is possible.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Immunology, 1992 Mar, 75(3), 475 - 80 Effect of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rh G-CSF) on murine resistance against Listeria monocytogenes; Serushago BA et al.; Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rh G-CSF) enhanced resistance of mice against Listeria monocytogenes (LM) as determined by survival and bacterial growth . Mice pretreated with rh G-CSF twice daily for 5 days survived better than untreated animals to the challenge with LM . Number of bacteria in peritoneal cavity (PC) and spleen was lower in treated mice than that in the control group . Rh G-CSF increased mainly polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) in blood and spleen . After LM inoculation, a larger number of PMN and monocyte-macrophages accumulated in PC and spleen of tested mice . In addition, PMN primed in vivo with rh G-CSF released more superoxide anions when stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate . The inhibition of bacterial growth in PC and spleen could be ascribed to the accumulation of phagocytic cells at the infection sites and the increased oxidative metabolism . The results provided further evidence of the important contribution of G-CSF and neutrophils, as target cells, to the host defence against the intracellular bacteria. Res Microbiol, 1992 Mar-Apr, 143(3), 281 - 94 Restriction fragment length polymorphism in four virulence-associated genes of Listeria monocytogenes; Vines A et al.; We observed restriction fragment length polymorphism in 4 genes of Listeria monocytogenes associated with virulence . Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and primers derived from published sequences, we amplified the following genes: hlyA coding for listeriolysin O, iap coding for a putative invasion-associated factor, mpl coding for a metalloprotease, and the prfA gene that positively regulates the hylA gene . PCR-amplified DNA were cut with several restriction endonucleases, and the restriction profiles from 29 strains, representing 6 serovars (serovars 1/2a, 1/2b, 1/2c, 3a, 3b and 4b) were compared . Based on these restriction profiles, the strains were categorized into 2 subgroups: one group contained all 10 strains of serovars 1/2a, 1/2c and 3a, the other group contained all 19 strains of serovars 1/2b, 3b and 4b . This division is in complete agreement with multilocus enzyme electrophoretic analysis data which divide the species into the same 2 subgroups . Whether the differences observed in the nucleotide sequences of the 4 virulence-associated genes for the 2 subgroups of L . monocytogenes represent salient variations in pathogenic mechanisms is not known. Int J Food Microbiol, 1992 Mar-Apr, 15(3-4), 347 - 56 Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of Listeria monocytogenes and its application to epidemiological investigations; Lew AE et al.; The restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) of 64 random and potentially related strains of Listeria monocytogenes were analysed and compared using a probe comprised of two L . monocytogenes chromosome fragments cloned into a lambda vector . Twelve RFLP types were defined using 14 isolates of clinical origin, 42 food isolates and eight food associated environmental strains . Of the RFLP types, some were common to a particular serovar and source, whereas others were widespread amongst all serovars and sources . One of the two most common RFLP patterns was associated with serovar 1/2 isolates from food or the environment, whereas another dominant pattern was associated most commonly with serovar four isolates from all sources . The potential relationships between epidemiologically related strains were examined, with the analysis of types from a suspected listeriosis outbreak, from clinical maternal-foetal cases, and from an ice-cream factory environmental study . Serotyping alone was not a sufficient marker for the comparison of these strains whereas further discrimination of strains was possible with RFLP analysis. Infect Immun, 1992 Mar, 60(3), 916 - 21 Reduced virulence of a Listeria monocytogenes phospholipase-deficient mutant obtained by transposon insertion into the zinc metalloprotease gene; Raveneau J et al.; A phospholipase-deficient mutant, termed JL762, was obtained from a virulent strain of Listeria monocytogenes by screening a bank of 5,000 Tn1545 transposon-induced mutants on 2.5% egg yolk brain heart infusion agar . As previously shown (J . Mengaud, C . Geoffroy, and P . Cossart, Infect . Immun . 59:1043-1049, 1991), the transposon insertion took place inside the gene mpl, which encodes a zinc metalloprotease . By Western blot (immunoblot) analysis, we showed that loss of phospholipase activity was associated with loss of a 29-kDa zinc-dependent phosphatidylcholine-phospholipase C (PC-PLC) in culture supernatant of JL762 and of EGD-SmR incubated with ion chelator . As the parental strain, JL762 still produced in supernatants approximately 33-kDa proteins antigenically closely related to the 29-kDa PC-PLC . These results strongly suggest that the zinc metalloprotease of L . monocytogenes might play a role in the maturation of the 29-kDa PC-PLC . Although the uptake and the intracellular growth of bacteria were not affected in vitro, we found that the virulence of mutant JL762 was strongly impaired in the mouse. Vet Rec, 1992 Feb 29, 130(9), 178 - 85 Some unusual diseases in the birds of Victoria, Australia; Reece RL et al.; The following unusual diseases were diagnosed in birds submitted to the Veterinary Research Institute, Victoria, between 1978 and 1987: the viral diseases beak and feather disease of psittacines, infectious laryngotracheitis in peafowls, a papovavirus-like inclusion body disease in psittacines, and pox; chlamydiosis; the bacterial diseases actinomycosis, listeriosis and mycobacteriosis; the fungal diseases favus, yeast infections and systemic zygomycosis; the protozoan diseases cryptosporidiosis, hexamitiasis, suspected leucocytozoonosis, sarcosporidiosis, toxoplasmosis, trichomoniasis and an unidentified protozoan-like organism which caused pneumonia in ducks; a variety of parasites; the metabolic disorders curled-toe paralysis in pheasant poults, encephalomalacia and parenchymatous goitre; toxicity due to dimetridazole and the ingestion of the leaves of the tobacco tree; and other non-infectious conditions including asphyxiation, burns, cataracts, cerebellar degeneration and atrophy, cystic right oviducts and exertional rhabdomyolysis. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1992 Feb 28, 1130(1), 81 - 4 Listeriolysin genes: complete sequence of ilo from Listeria ivanovii and of lso from Listeria seeligeri; Haas A et al.; The complete DNA sequences coding for the thiol-activated cytolysins from Listeria ivanovii, ivanolysin O (ILO) and for seeligerolysin O (LSO) from Listeria seeligeri have been determined . The deduced amino acid sequences revealed that: (i) the primary translation products comprise 528 (ILO) and 530 (LSO) amino acids, respectively, (ii) ILO contains two cysteines, LSO has a substitution in the conserved cysteine motif. S Afr Med J, 1992 Feb 15, 81(4), 187 - 9 Listeria monocytogenes meningitis at King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban . A 10-year experience, 1981-1990; Lalloo UG et al.; Nine cases, 3 adults and 6 children, with Listeria monocytogenes meningitis were seen over a 10-year period at King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban . These cases accounted for 0.8% (3/374) and 0.6% (6/1,210) of all culture-positive cases of acute bacterial meningitis in adults and children, respectively, and represented 2.9% (4/136) of all culture-positive cases in the neonatal age group and 5.7% (3/53) of culture-positive cases in adults 50 years and older . The patients had positive blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures . All isolates were sensitive to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim combination and gentamicin . One isolate in an 11-month-old child was resistant to penicillin and 2 isolates in the adult patients displayed intermediate sensitivity to this antibiotic . The adults were over 50 years of age and presented with an abrupt onset of a pyrexial illness, meningitis and focal neurological signs; only 1 survived . Only 1 8-week-old infant of the paediatric cases survived . A polymorphonuclear leucocytosis, low serum glucose and elevated protein values were common findings in the CSF and the features in some patients mimicked tuberculous or viral meningitis . The fulminant course of the disease and the fact that penicillin and not ampicillin is the first-line antibiotic makes it essential to consider listeriosis as a possible diagnosis, particularly in the very ill patient. South Med J, 1992 Feb, 85(2), 193 - 5 Listeria monocytogenes causing endovascular infection; Lamothe M et al.; Listeria monocytogenes is an uncommon cause of mycotic aneurysms, endocarditis, and other endovascular infections . When they occur, these infections usually involve patients with relatively normal host defenses, but with abnormal vascular intima or cardiac valves . We have reported a Listeria monocytogenes infection at the site of a posttraumatic aortic aneurysm. Infect Immun, 1992 Feb, 60(2), 523 - 8 Endogenous tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-6, and gamma interferon levels during Listeria monocytogenes infection in mice; Nakane A et al.; Mice were infected intravenously with a sublethal dose of Listeria monocytogenes cells and then levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) in the bloodstreams, spleens, and livers were monitored . The maximum level of TNF was detected at 72 h in the spleens and livers, but TNF was never detected in the bloodstreams . IL-6 appeared in the bloodstreams and spleens and peaked at 48 h . The maximum level of IFN-gamma could be detected in all three specimens, and the highest titer was shown in the spleens . Endogenous TNF production was suppressed by in vivo administration of anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody (MAb) or anti-asialo GM1 antibody but not by anti-CD8 MAb, whereas none of these antibodies suppressed endogenous IL-6 production . Endogenous production of neither IL-6 nor IFN-gamma was inhibited in rabbit anti-recombinant mouse TNF-alpha antibody-treated mice . Similarly, production of TNF and IL-6 did not decrease in anti-mouse IFN-gamma MAb-treated animals, but TNF production was augmented in these animals . These results suggest that the these endogenous cytokines are produced by different mechanisms in L . monocytogenes infection. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1992 Feb, 58(2), 765 - 8 Suitability of the prfA gene, which encodes a regulator of virulence genes in Listeria monocytogenes, in the identification of pathogenic Listeria spp; Wernars K et al.; The pathogenesis of listerial infections is complex and involves a number of virulence factors expressed by virulent Listeria species . We have recently described a regulator gene, prfA, that positively regulates the expression of a number of virulence factors in Listeria monocytogenes . When the prfA gene was used as a DNA probe, we found it to be extremely specific for the pathogenic species L . monocytogenes . No reaction was obtained with strains of all other species of this genus . By using this information, an oligonucleotide primer pair was developed that specifically amplifies the prfA gene in L . monocytogenes strains of all known serotypes. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1992 Feb, 58(2), 709 - 12 Differentiation of Listeria monocytogenes, Listeria innocua, Listeria ivanovii, and Listeria seeligeri by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis; Howard PJ et al.; Clamped homogeneous electric field analysis of Listeria DNA with ApaI, AscI, SmaI, or NotI revealed species- and serotype-specific differences in genomic fingerprints . Clamped homogeneous electric field analysis may prove useful, therefore, in epidemiologic studies . Also, the summation of individually sized AscI fragments of genomic DNA from L . monocytogenes serotype 4b 101M and Scott A indicated genome lengths of 2,925 and 3,046 kb, respectively. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1992 Feb, 58(2), 624 - 9 Inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes by fatty acids and monoglycerides; Wang LL et al.; Fatty acids and monoglycerides were evaluated in brain heart infusion broth and in milk for antimicrobial activity against the Scott A strain of Listeria monocytogenes . C12:0, C18:3, and glyceryl monolaurate (monolaurin) had the strongest activity in brain heart infusion broth and were bactericidal at 10 to 20 micrograms/ml, whereas potassium (K)-conjugated linoleic acids and C18:2 were bactericidal at 50 to 200 micrograms/ml . C14:0, C16:0, C18:0, C18:1, glyceryl monomyristate, and glyceryl monopalmitate were not inhibitory at 200 micrograms/ml . The bactericidal activity in brain heart infusion broth was higher at pH 5 than at pH 6 . In whole milk and skim milk, K-conjugated linoleic acid was bacteriostatic and prolonged the lag phase especially at 4 degrees C . Monolaurin inactivated L . monocytogenes in skim milk at 4 degrees C, but was less inhibitory at 23 degrees C . Monolaurin did not inhibit L . monocytogenes in whole milk because of the higher fat content . Other fatty acids tested were not effective in whole or skim milk . Our results suggest that K-conjugated linoleic acids or monolaurin could be used as an inhibitory agent against L . monocytogenes in dairy foods. Curr Opin Immunol, 1992 Feb, 4(1), 20 - 4 Innate immunity to a facultative intracellular bacterial pathogen; Portnoy DA; The murine response to Listeria monocytogenes has long been considered a paradigm of T-cell-mediated immunity . There is, however, substantial evidence that T-cell-deficient mice are capable of surviving a L . monocytogenes challenge . Recently, advances have been made in our understanding of the cell biology and pathogenesis of infection. Microb Pathog, 1992 Feb, 12(2), 115 - 25 Effect of Legionella pneumophila cytotoxic protease on human neutrophil and monocyte function; Rechnitzer C et al.; The extracellular metalloprotease of Legionella pneumophila, also called tissue-destructive protease or major secretory protein, has been proposed as one of the virulence factors of this organism . Considering the decisive role played by the phagocytic cells in host defense against Legionella infection, we investigated the effect of this protease on the function of human neutrophils and monocytes . L . pneumophila protease inhibited the chemotactic response of neutrophils to F-Met-Leu-Phe and zymosan-activated serum in a concentration-dependent and heat-labile manner . A direct effect of the protease on the chemotactic activity of neutrophils was demonstrated by the continued inhibition of neutrophil chemotaxis when the protease was removed following pre-incubation of the cells . In contrast, the enzyme had no effect on monocyte chemotaxis . The protease inhibited, also in a concentration-dependent and heat-labile manner, the binding of F-Met-Leu-Phe to both cell types . Neutrophil and monocyte oxidative burst response, as measured by superoxide release and chemiluminescence response, was not significantly affected by the enzyme . A slight enhancement of PMA-stimulated superoxide release was induced by the protease in both cell types . Lastly, the protease inhibited the killing of Listeria monocytogenes by neutrophils or monocytes . Inhibition of Listeria killing was concentration-dependent, heat-labile, and did not require the presence of the enzyme in the bactericidal assay . The inhibitory activity of L . pneumophila protease on neutrophil chemotaxis and on the listericidal activity of human neutrophils and monocytes demonstrated in this study provides evidence for a role of this enzyme in the pathogenesis of Legionnaires' disease. J Dairy Sci, 1992 Feb, 75(2), 380 - 6 Survival of Listeria monocytogenes during the manufacture and ripening of Swiss cheese; Buazzi MM et al.; Rindless Swiss cheese was made from a mixture of pasteurized whole and skim milk that was inoculated to contain 10(4) to 10(5) cfu of Listeria monocytogenes (strain Ohio, California, or V7)/ml . During clotting of milk, numbers of L . monocytogenes remained nearly unchanged . When the curd was heated gradually to attain the cooking temperature (50 degrees C), numbers of L . monocytogenes increased by approximately 40 to 45% over those in inoculated milk . Cooking curd at 50 degrees C (122 degrees F) for 30 to 40 min resulted in resilient curd having a pH of 6.40 to 6.45 and decreased L . monocytogenes by 48% compared with numbers of the pathogen in inoculated milk . After curd was pressed under whey, numbers of L . monocytogenes increased by approximately 52% over those in inoculated milk and reached their maxima at the end of this stage . A sharp decrease in numbers of L . monocytogenes occurred during brining of cheese blocks (7 degrees C for 30 h) . The population of L . monocytogenes continued to decrease during cheese ripening . Average D values for strains California, Ohio, and V7 were 29.2, 24, and 22.5 d, respectively . Listeria was not detected (direct plating, and cold enrichment) after 80, 77, and 66 d of ripening of Swiss cheese made from milk inoculated with strains California, Ohio, and V7, respectively . Thus, Swiss cheese made in this study did not permit extended survival of L . monocytogenes. Tijdschr Kindergeneeskd, 1992 Feb, 60(1), 18 - 21 {Neonatal listeriosis}; Alliet P et al.; During the period november 1988-december 1989 eight cases of early onset neonatal Listeria monocytogenes infection were registered in the 'Neonatal Intensive Care Unit' of the University Hospital in Leuven (Belgium) . Before bacteriological proof was available, diagnosis could be made in 7 cases, based on a characteristic clinical picture: a maternal flu-like syndrome leading to preterm labour with intact membranes, meconium stained amniotic fluid, perinatal asphyxia and respiratory distress of the neonate . In 5 infants a maculopapulovesicular skin eruption was present . Laboratory findings were non-specific . An interesting finding was the predominance of monocytes in the endotracheal aspirate of infected infants . In 5 out of 8 patients meningitis and intraventricular hemorrhage were present; two of them died, three developed severe neurological sequelae. Immunology, 1992 Feb, 75(2), 238 - 44 Difference in the functional maturation of T cells against Listeria monocytogenes in lymph nodes and spleen; Serushago BA et al.; After subcutaneous immunization of mice with viable Listeria monocytogenes (LM), we evaluated the function of T cells induced in draining lymph nodes (LN) and spleen as determined by the local transfer of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), acquired cellular resistance (ACR) and in vitro lymphokine production . LN cells could transfer specifically DTH but not ACR . In contrast, spleen cells from the same donor mice evoked the DTH response as well as bacterial clearance at the reaction site . Comparison of bacterial counts in spleen and in LN upon subcutaneous inoculation of mice with LM suggested that the lack of bacterial proliferation in LN underlay the failure to induce protective T cells in this lymphoid tissue . Spleen and LN T cells expressed CD4 and CD8 surface antigens equally and DTH response was solely dependent on CD4+ cells . Another major difference between LN and spleen cells was the profile of lymphokines produced in vitro . Upon the in vitro restimulation with killed Listeria, immune spleen cells produced macrophage chemotactic factor (MCF), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) . In contrast, LN cells could produce all of the measured lymphokines but not IFN-gamma . The results provided strong evidence for the dissociation of DTH and ACR . Listerial growth appeared to be the requirement for full maturation of anti-listerial immunity that may coincide with the generation of IFN-gamma-producing T cells. Presse Med, 1992 Feb 1, 21(4), 165 - 70 {Pregnancy in HIV infected women . Current therapeutic indications}; Gillet JY et al.; This paper deals with the management of pregnant women with HIV infection . The virus is transmitted by the mother to 20-30 percent of the infants, and therapeutic abortion should be offered to women whose pregnancy does not exceed 26 weeks of amenorrhoea . If pregnancy is pursued, the mother must be investigated for sexually transmitted diseases which are particularly frequent in this population and may have repercussions on the newborn . Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is the most common opportunistic infection in pregnancy . In case of T4-cell depletion chemotherapy with pentamidine must be instituted . Hygienic and dietetic measures should be applied to avoid listeriosis and toxoplasmosis . Serological tests for toxoplasmosis are necessary in all HIV patients, with chemoprophylaxis in case of increased IgG levels . Thrombocytopenia usually responds to human immunoglobulins . At delivery, there is no need to modify the usual obstetrical procedures . During the post-partum period, another pregnancy must be avoided by good compliance with a reliable contraceptive method . As for the preventive treatment of mother-to-child HIV transmission, at the moment only AZT can be considered, but its effectiveness remains to be evaluated in therapeutic trials. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1992 Feb 1, 89(3), 1011 - 5 Interleukin 1 participates in the development of anti-Listeria responses in normal and SCID mice; Rogers HW et al.; Using T- and B-cell deficient C.B-17 mice with the scid mutation, we have previously documented the existence of a T-cell-independent but interferon gamma-dependent pathway of macrophage activation that confers upon the host partial resistance to the facultative intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes . This pathway is operative in both normal and SCID mice and consists of at least four components: interferon gamma, tumor necrosis factor, macrophages, and natural killer cells . Here we demonstrate that interleukin 1 also participates in this pathway but at a different site of action . Using monoclonal antibodies that neutralize the biologic activities of interleukin 1 alpha and interleukin 1 beta, we document that interleukin 1 participates neither directly in the induction of interferon gamma from isolated SCID natural killer cells nor in the antigen-specific activation of CD4+ T cells derived from Listeria-immune C.B-17 mice . In contrast, injection of a mixture of anti-interleukin 1 alpha, anti-interleukin 1 beta, and a newly derived monoclonal antibody specific for the murine type I interleukin-1 receptor into either SCID or normal C.B-17 mice blocked the in vivo elaboration of class II major histocompatibility complex-positive macrophages after infection of the animals with Listeria . Moreover, SCID mice treated with the anti-interleukin-1 mixture failed to control the growth of Listeria in vivo and eventually succumbed to the infection . These results document that endogenously produced interleukin 1 plays an obligate role in the Listeria-dependent induction of activated macrophages in vivo and demonstrate that the action of interleukin 1 is distinct from the generation of natural killer cell-derived interferon gamma. Can J Microbiol, 1992 Feb, 38(2), 161 - 4 Plasmids in Listeria monocytogenes and other Listeria species; Peterkin PI et al.; One hundred and twenty-two food, clinical, and veterinary strains of Listeria monocytogenes were examined for the presence of plasmids . Twenty-five (20%) contained plasmids, which varied from 1.3 to 66 MDa in size . Of 10 strains of other Listeria species (L . innocua, L . ivanovii, L . welshimeri, L . seeligeri, L . grayi, and L . murrayi) examined, seven (70%) contained plasmids, varying from 38 to 53 MDa . No strains with multiple plasmids were found . Plasmids of identical size were isolated from related strains in some, although not all, cases . The presence of a plasmid in a strain was not related to phenotypic characters of known extrachromosomal inheritance. Res Microbiol, 1992 Feb, 143(2), 183 - 9 Evaluation of a chemiluminescent DNA probe assay for the rapid confirmation of Listeria monocytogenes; Okwumabua O et al.; A Listeria monocytogenes-specific, acridinium-ester-labelled DNA probe was evaluated in a chemiluminescent homogeneous protection assay (HPA) for the rapid confirmation of suspect L . monocytogenes colonies from blood agar plates . The HPA uses an acridinium-ester-labelled chemiluminescent DNA probe in a free-solution hybridization format . After the DNA probe hybridized with the target ribosomal RNA, the acridinium label on the unhybridized probe was inactivated by a chemical differential hydrolysis step . Formation of a hybrid between probe and target was detected in a luminometer after the addition of a detection reagent . The assay can be completed in 30 to 45 min and allows for simultaneous processing of several (50-100) samples . The probe showed 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity for L . monocytogenes when evaluated in the HPA against L . monocytogenes, other Listeria species and other Gram-positive bacteria . The lower detection limit of the HPA was between 10(4) and 10(5) cells . In an evaluation with 296 bacterial colonies isolated from food, the HPA colony confirmation showed 100% agreement with conventional biochemical characterization . HPA will be useful for the rapid confirmation of L . monocytogenes isolated from food and clinical specimens. J Appl Bacteriol, 1992 Feb, 72(2), 119 - 25 Occurrence of Listeria species in raw milk and dairy products produced in Northern Ireland; Harvey J et al.; The overall incidence of Listeria spp . in raw milk samples surveyed was found to be 25.0% (Listeria monocytogenes 15.3%), with the incidence in samples from processing centres 54.0% (L . monocytogenes 33.3%); this was higher than that in samples from dairy farms (Listeria spp . 8.8%; L . monocytogenes 5.3%) . The FDA enrichment procedure was much more productive than cold enrichment and Oxford agar was superior to modified McBride agar for isolation of Listeria . Listeria monocytogenes was never isolated by direct plating of raw milk samples on Oxford agar at a detection level of 1.0 cfu/ml . Listeria spp . were isolated from 1 of 95 pasteurized milk samples (L . monocytogenes) and 1 of 33 soft cheese samples (L . seeligeri) . Restriction fragment length polymorphism was more useful than sero- or phage-typing for typing of L . monocytogenes strains, and results suggest that specific L . monocytogenes strains may persist in both farm and processing environments. J Immunol, 1992 Jan 15, 148(2), 555 - 61 Metabolic requirements for macrophage presentation of Listeria monocytogenes to immune CD8 cells; Brown ML et al.; Though ingested Ag are readily degraded into peptides within endocytic vesicles, APC usually cannot present these fragments to CD8 cells . Despite this generalization, some exceptions have been noted . For example, murine macrophage targets readily process heat-killed Listeria monocytogenes (HKLM) into a form recognizable by immune CD8 CTL . Using an assay of Listeria-specific, CD8-mediated cytotoxicity to quantitate Ag presentation by C57Bl/6 macrophage targets, we have examined some of the cellular requirements for this form of Ag processing . To assess whether the physical form of the Ag is an important determinant of processing, we compared the ability of macrophages to present intact HKLM, fractionated L . monocytogenes (LM) membranes, and octyl-beta-d-thioglucopyranoside-solubilized extracts of LM membranes . Macrophages presented each Ag form in a similar manner indicating that processing is not critically dependent on the presence of intact bacteria or even on the introduction of Ag in a particulate form . To gain insight into the metabolic requirements for Ag processing, we examined the effects of several inhibitors . As might be expected, listerial Ag presentation was blocked by brefeldin, a known inhibitor of the endogenous pathway of Ag processing . LM Ag presentation, however, was also blocked by inhibitors of endosomal acidification (chloroquine, ammonium chloride, and monensin) and by the acid protease inhibitor pepstatin A, suggesting that endocytic processing may play an essential role in CD8 recognition of this Ag . To formally establish that this pattern of exogenous Ag processing requires the presence of a class I MHC product, we demonstrated that beta-2 microglobulin-deficient macrophages, which lack class I MHC product expression, cannot present HKLM to CD8 cells . However, we could not block Ag presentation by incubating macrophages with monoclonal anti-H-2K or H-2D antibodies, suggesting that LM Ag presentation may be mediated by some other class I MHC product . Additional characterization of this pathway of Ag presentation is warranted in view of its possible role in initiating CD8-mediated immunity against microbial Ag. Life Sci, 1992, 50(18), 1327 - 32 Deferoxamine increases the susceptibility of beta-thalassemic, iron-overloaded mice to infection with Listeria monocytogenes; Ampel NM et al.; The effect of the iron chelator deferoxamine (DFO) on resistance to infection with Listeria monocytogenes in mice with a condition analogous to human beta-thalassemia was studied . Intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg DFO resulted in significantly increased mortality when given one, three and six days before infection with L . monocytogenes (for all three time points, p less than 0.02) . There were no significant differences in hematocrit, plasma iron, or splenic iron content between the two groups of mice during these time periods . In addition, splenic counts of L . monocytogenes were not significantly higher in DFO-treated compared to saline-treated mice three days after infection . Moreover, background C57Bl/6J mice were not more susceptible to Listeria infection after receiving DFO than were saline-treated controls . In conclusion, acute administration of DFO increases the susceptibility of beta-thalassemic mice to L . monocytogenes . The effect is not seen in background mice and suggests that DFO increases susceptibility to Listeria infection only in animals with iron overload. J Leukoc Biol, 1992 Jan, 51(1), 69 - 76 Differential immunocompetence of macrophages derived using macrophage or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor; Rutherford MS et al.; Macrophages derived in vitro from bone marrow progenitors (bone marrow-derived macrophages, BMDMs) using either macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1) or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) as the myelopoietic stimulus display differential functional, morphological, and mRNA phenotypes . The data presented here demonstrate further that CSF-1- and GM-CSF-derived BMDMs differ in immunologic capacity . GM-CSF-derived BMDMs, when compared to CSF-1-derived BMDMs, showed greater cytolytic activity against tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha)-resistant, but not TNF-alpha-sensitive, tumor targets . In contrast, CSF-1-derived BMDMs produced nitrite in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) alone, whereas GM-CSF-derived BMDMs required interferon gamma plus LPS treatment . The two BMDM populations also showed differential sensitivities to LPS for secretion of TNF-alpha and nitrite, but the maximal inducible amounts of these factors and prostaglandin E2 were similar between the BMDM populations . Lastly, GM-CSF-derived but not CSF-1-derived BMDMs showed an L-arginine-dependent listeriacidal activity . These results show that the functional heterogeneity of CSF-1- and GM-CSF-derived macrophages is limited and appears to result largely from differences in the activational signals required by each BMDM population to elicit a given function. Int J Syst Bacteriol, 1992 Jan, 42(1), 171 - 4 Assignment of Listeria grayi and Listeria murrayi to a single species, Listeria grayi, with a revised description of Listeria grayi; Rocourt J et al.; The genomic relatedness between Listeria grayi and Listeria murrayi was reevaluated by using DNA-DNA hybridization, multilocus enzyme electrophoresis, and rRNA restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques . The high levels of similarity observed between the strains of these two species confirmed the data published since 1973 and indicated that they should be considered members of a single species . On grounds of priority, the species should be named L . grayi. Mol Gen Genet, 1992 Jan, 231(2), 313 - 22 Cloning of a superoxide dismutase gene from Listeria ivanovii by functional complementation in Escherichia coli and characterization of the gene product; Haas A et al.; A gene encoding superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1., SOD) was isolated from a plasmid library of chromosomal DNA from Listeria ivanovii by functional complementation of an SOD-negative Escherichia coli host . The nucleotide sequence of the cloned gene was determined and contained an open reading frame which codes for a protein of 202 amino acid residues (calculated molecular weight 22755 Da including the amino-terminal methionine residue) . Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of L . ivanovii SOD with previously reported SOD amino acid sequences revealed considerable homologies with Fe- and Mn-dependent SODs . Enzymatic analyses using cell lysates and the purified recombinant enzyme indicated that this SOD is manganese-dependent . The recombinant SOD accounted for up to 30% of the total soluble protein in recombinant E . coli and protected sodA sodB mutants against the toxic effects of paraquat . Subunits of the recombinant Listeria SOD and of both E . coli SODs formed enzymatically active hybrids in vivo. J Bacteriol, 1992 Jan, 174(2), 568 - 74 Coordinate regulation of virulence genes in Listeria monocytogenes requires the product of the prfA gene; Chakraborty T et al.; The prfA gene of Listeria monocytogenes encodes a protein that activates transcription of the listeriolysin gene (lisA) . In order to explore the role of the prfA gene product in the pathogenesis of listerial infection, we constructed a site-directed insertion mutation in prfA by the chromosomal integration of a novel suicide vector containing a portion of the prfA coding region . This mutation not only transcriptionally silenced the listeriolysin (lisA) gene but also abrogated production of specific RNA transcripts corresponding to the phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (pic) and metalloprotease (mpl) genes, two further virulence gene products expressed only by pathogenic Listeria strains . The strain was also found to be avirulent when tested in a mouse model of listerial infection . The concomitant loss of multiple characteristics such as production of LisA, Pic, Mpl, and loss of virulence in a mouse infection model is the result of a mutation in a single gene and demonstrates that the prfA gene product is a positive regulator of multiple virulence determinants in L . monocytogenes. Int J Food Microbiol, 1992 Jan-Feb, 15(1-2), 51 - 9 Characterisation of Danish isolates of Listeria monocytogenes by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis; Norrung B; A total of 84 strains of Listeria monocytogenes were analysed by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis at twelve enzyme loci . Eight enzyme loci were polymorphic with between 2 and 4 alleles per locus . Fourteen electrophoretic types (ETs) were identified . Among 62 human clinical isolates from Denmark, 8 different ETs were defined . Two ETs, designated ET 1 and ET 6, accounted for 77% of the human clinical isolates investigated . These ETs are identical with those responsible for several epidemics in Switzerland and in the United States . Comparison of 58 isolates of L . monocytogenes, typed by MEE, in relation to phage typing showed that phage typing was more discriminatory than MEE . The ability of MEE to distinguish between phage types of Epi-type and other phage types, however, was almost optimal . MEE typed 23 of 24 strains of Epi-type as belonging to ET 1 . In contrast ET 1 was not found in 26 strains with phage types other than the Epi-type. Int J Food Microbiol, 1992 Jan-Feb, 15(1-2), 109 - 19 Sites of action by propionate on Listeria monocytogenes; Buazzi MM et al.; Exposure of Listeria monocytogenes to a solution of sodium propionate (8% w/v) for 60 min caused 87% of the population to be injured . Injury was evidenced by inability of the bacterium to tolerate 6% sodium chloride in tryptose agar as compared to ability to grow on tryptose agar with no added salt . Injured cells were allowed to repair in tryptose broth and the repair process was studied by addition to tryptose broth of sublethal amounts of metabolic or synthetic inhibitors . Repair of injured cells did not require electron transport or synthesis of cell wall components, mRNA or protein . No changes which may have occurred in the cell membrane of injured cells, allowed leakage of proteins or nucleotides into the medium . Exogenous cation salts enhanced the rate of recovery of injured cells . The specific activity of lactic dehydrogenase was reduced in propionate-injured L . monocytogenes. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol, 1992, 14(1-2), 165 - 90 Augmentation of host resistance to Listeria monocytogenes infection by a traditional Chinese medicine, ren-shen-yang-rong-tang (Japanese name: ninjin-youei-to); Yonekura K et al.; Ren-shen-yang-rong-tang (Japanese name: Ninjin-youei-to, NIN), a traditional Chinese medicine, is a drug made of spray-dried powder of hot water extract obtained from twelve species of medical plants . An intraperitoneal (ip) injection with NIN 2 days before intravenous (iv) infection with Listeria monocytogenes (L . monocytogenes) accelerated elimination of viable bacteria in the spleen in the early stage of infection (from day 1) and protected mice from the lethal infection . It was suggested that the protective effect of NIN was mediated by the activation of nonimmune macrophages playing a principle role in resistance in the early stage of infection . Two days after ip injection with NIN just before infection, significantly increment in the number of monocytes in the peripheral blood was observed, though macrophage number in the spleen and their intracellular killing activity were unchanged . At 12 hours after infection with L . monocytogenes, a significantly enhanced increase of splenic macrophage number was observed in NIN-treated mice, compared to controls . After ip injection of NIN, interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6 and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) became detectable in the serum or peritoneal cavity . These results suggested that NIN stimulated macrophage-precursor cells in the bone marrow via the production of IL-1, IL-6, GM-CSF by macrophages, accelerated the supply of peripheral macrophages, and such macrophages accumulated into the site of infection in the very early stage of infection . Similar protective effects of NIN were observed by oral administration for 7 days till 1 day before iv infection with L . monocytogenes. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1992 Jan, 36(1), 68 - 70 Effects of recombinant human interleukin-6 alone and in combination with recombinant interleukin-1 alpha and tumor necrosis factor alpha on antibacterial resistance in mice; Czuprynski CJ et al.; In this study, recombinant human interleukin-6 (rIL-6) was tested for its ability to alter the resistance of mice to experimental Listeria monocytogenes infection . Single bolus or repeated injections of rIL-6 by itself did not increase antilisteria resistance . When rIL-6 was injected in combination with suboptimal concentrations of rIL-1 alpha and tumor necrosis factor alpha (rTNF-alpha), it did not augment their abilities to mediate protection in the spleen and had a marginal effect on the level of protection in the liver . Injection of rIL-6 together with protective doses of rIL-1 alpha did not diminish the protection stimulated by the latter . Unlike rIL-1 alpha and recombinant tumor necrosis factor alpha, rIL-6 appears to have little ability to elevate antibacterial resistance. Wien Klin Wochenschr, 1992, 104(6), 149 - 57 {10 years foodborne listeriosis--an evaluation}; Brosch R et al.; Foodborne listeriosis outbreaks, which occurred in the past 10 years, have raised new questions in listeriosis epidemiology . The renewed interest in listeriosis and Listeria monocytogenes has resulted in various efforts, which enormously enriched the knowledge about his relatively rare, but because of the high mortality rate, important infectious disease as well as about its causative agent . New data concerning epidemiology and therapy of human listeriosis as well as new experience with Listeria monocytogenes regarding virulence, typing, isolation, identification, occurrence in food and environment, behaviour towards disinfectants etc . have changed the view of human listeriosis prevention . The new aspects are summarized in this review. Yakugaku Zasshi, 1992 Jan, 112(1), 56 - 60 {Effects of experimental Listeria monocytogenes infection on mice fed on lamprey or sardine oil prepared under high-temperature deodorization}; Mineo S et al.; Fresh lamprey (F-La) or sardine (F-Sa) oil is known to contain a large amount of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids . When F-La or F-Sa was deodorized with steam at 280 degrees C under 1 mmHg for 1 h (H-La and H-Sa, respectively), the contents of EPA and DHA were reduced and unidentified peaks were newly detected by gas-liquid chromatography . To know the biological influences of these high-temperature deodorized oils, the sterilizing function of the macrophage against Listeria monocytogenes was investigated in male ddY mice fed H-La or H-Sa . One week feeding of H-La or H-Sa lowered the LD50 values of the bacteria injected intravenously . Numbers of the viable bacteria on the day 3 after intravenous injection were about 10 times higher in the liver and 5 times higher in the spleen of mice fed H-La or H-Sa as compared with those of the control group . These results suggest that the sterilizing function of fixed macrophages both in the liver and the spleen was suppressed in mice fed H-La or H-Sa. Br Vet J, 1992 Jan-Feb, 148(1), 15 - 22 Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from field cases of some common ovine neurological diseases; Scott PR; Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from normal sheep and from cases of some common neurological diseases revealed a significant increase (P less than 0.05) in the group mean CSF protein concentration for meningitis, listeriosis and spinal abscess but not for scrapie, spinal injury, ovine pregnancy toxaemia or polioencephalomalacia . The CSF white blood cell count (WBC) was significantly increased (P less than 0.05) in the meningitis group and in those cases of listeriosis which failed to respond to antibiotic therapy . All cases of bacterial infection of the central nervous system (CNS) could be identified by the combined interpretation of the protein concentration and the differential WBC count . It is concluded that CSF analysis is useful clinically in differentiating traumatic from infective spinal lesions and toxic or metabolic lesions from bacterial meningitis in sheep. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1992 Jan, 58(1), 434 - 8 Role of potassium tellurite and brain heart infusion in expression of the hemolytic phenotype of Listeria spp . on agar plates; Fernandez-Garayzabal JF et al.; The influence of potassium tellurite (PT) and brain heart infusion agar (Difco), two components of modified Listeria selective agar medium (LSAMm), on the hemolytic phenotype of Listeria spp . was studied . L . monocytogenes and L . ivanovii displayed bigger zones of hemolysis on brain heart intusion agar compared with on Columbia agar base . The addition of PT increased the sizes of zones of hemolysis displayed by L . monocytogenes . This effect seemed to be produced by the enhancement of the cytolytic effect of listeriolysin O . PT decreased the hemolysis produced by L . ivanovii, and this effect seemed to be due to an inhibition of the sphingomyelinase C produced by this species. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1992 Jan, 58(1), 296 - 302 Classification of virulent and temperate bacteriophages of Listeria spp . on the basis of morphology and protein analysis; Zink R et al.; A set of 22 phages of Listeria species (listeriaphages) (21 temperate and 1 virulent) were compared on the basis of morphology and protein composition . All 22 phages had icosahedral heads and exhibited either contractile or noncontractile tails . They represented two different morphotypes . Twenty phages belonged to the Siphoviridae family and could be differentiated only on the basis of tail length . Accordingly, they could be assigned to previously defined listeriaphage species . Two other phages were classified as members of the Myoviridae family, one of which (A511) should be regarded as a new species . It was found to be substantially different from all other known listeriaphages . All phages exhibited typical protein profiles, which were determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and subsequent laser densitometrical analysis of the gels . It was then possible to distinguish eight protein subgroups on the basis of unique protein patterns . This classification corresponds well to the previous groupings based on host range . Most of the phages revealed two or three major proteins ranging from 21 to 24 kDa and 30 to 36 kDa . In addition, at least 10 minor proteins could be observed for each phage . Our results indicate that the major proteins are structural proteins of the capsid and tail, and the protein band ranging from 30 to 35 kDa could clearly be assigned to the proteins of the phage capsid. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1992 Jan, 58(1), 14 - 20 Development of a repair-enrichment broth for resuscitation of heat-injured Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria innocua; Busch SV et al.; The ability of the divalent cations magnesium, iron, calcium and manganese; yeast extract; pyruvate; catalase; and the carbohydrates glucose, lactose, sucrose, esculin, fructose, galactose, maltose, and mannose to facilitate repair of heat-injured Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria innocua was evaluated . Listeria populations were injured by heating at 56 degrees C for 50 min . To determine the effects on repair, Trypticase soy broth (TSB) was supplemented with each medium component to be evaluated . Repair occurred to various degrees within 5 h in TSB supplemented with glucose, lactose, sucrose, yeast extract, pyruvate, or catalase . Chelex-exchanged TSB was supplemented with divalent cations; magnesium and iron cations were found to have a role in repair . Listeria repair broth (LRB) was formulated by utilizing the components that had the greatest impact upon repair . When incubated in LRB, heat-injured Listeria cells completed repair in 5 h . After the repair, acriflavin, nalidixic acid, and cycloheximide were added to LRB to yield final concentrations identical to those of the selective enrichment broths used in the procedures of the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S . Department of Agriculture . The efficacy of LRB in promoting repair and enrichment of heat-injured Listeria cells was compared with that of existing selective enrichment broths . Repair was not observed in the Food and Drug Administration enrichment broth, Listeria enrichment broth, or University of Vermont enrichment broth . The final Listeria populations after 24 h of incubation in selective enrichment media were 1.7 x 10(8) to 9.1 x 10(8) CFU/ml; populations in LRB consistently averaged 2.5 x 10(11) to 8.2 x 10(11) CFU/ml. J Exp Med, 1992 Jan 1, 175(1), 49 - 56 A protective role of gamma/delta T cells in primary infection with Listeria monocytogenes in mice; Hiromatsu K et al.; We have previously reported that T cells bearing T cell receptors (TCRs) of gamma/delta type appear at a relatively early stage of primary infection with Listeria monocytogenes in mice . To characterize the early-appearing gamma/delta T cells during listeriosis, we analyzed the specificity and cytokine production of the gamma/delta T cells in the peritoneal cavity in mice inoculated intraperitoneally with a sublethal dose of L . monocytogenes . The early-appearing gamma/delta T cells, most of which were of CD4-CD8- phenotype, proliferated and secreted IFN-gamma and macrophage chemotactic factor in response to purified protein derivative from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, or recombinant 65-kD heat-shock protein derived from M . bovis but not to heat-killed Listeria . To further elucidate the potential role of the gamma/delta T cells in the host-defense mechanism against primary infection with Listeria, we examined the effects of in vivo administration of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against TCR-gamma/delta or TCR-alpha/beta on the bacterial eradication in mice infected with Listeria . Most of alpha/beta T cells or gamma/delta T cells were depleted in the peripheral lymphoid organs at least for 12 d after an intraperitoneal injection of 200 micrograms TCR-alpha/beta mAb or 200 micrograms TCR-gamma/delta mAb, respectively . An exaggerated bacterial multiplication was evident at the early stage of listerial infection in the gamma/delta T cells-depleted mice, whereas the alpha/beta T cell-depleted mice exhibited much the same resistance level as the control mice at this stage although the resistance was severely impaired at the late stage after listerial infection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol, 1992, 14(3), 383 - 402 Effect of a traditional Chinese medicine, bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang (Japanese name: Hochu-ekki-to) on the protection against Listeria monocytogenes infection in mice; Li XY et al.; Effects of Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang (Japanese name: Hochu-ekki-to) on the resistance against Listeria monocytogenes were observed in ICR mice orally administered this medicine daily for 10 days . Survival rates were increased by the pretreatment in mice inoculated i.v . with bacteria 1 day after the last administration and in mice inoculated i.p . 4 days after the last administration . After an i.v . inoculation of L . monocytogenes, the numbers of bacteria in the spleen and liver increased gradually to kill mice by day 5 in untreated group but the bacterial numbers increased slightly by day 3 and decreased from day 3 to day 8 in Hochu-ekki-to pretreated group . After an i.p . inoculation, the number of bacteria in the peritoneal cavity decreased very rapidly within 6h in Hochu-ekki-to treated group compared to that in untreated group . After the administration, number of polymorphonuclear cells increased in the peripheral blood, peritoneal cavity and spleen . In treated mice, macrophages increased in number in the peritoneal cavity and the spleen but decreased in the peripheral blood . Peritoneal macrophages from treated mice showed an enhanced activity to kill L . monocytogenes in vitro within 60 min after ingestion of bacteria . Hochu-ekki-to may augment the host defense against L . monocytogenes through the activation of macrophage series during an early phase of infection. Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1992, 181(5), 283 - 91 Purification and characterization of cell wall proteins of Listeria monocytogenes; Belyi YF et al.; Two proteins were purified from Listeria monocytogenes cell wall using detergent extraction, Superose 6 gel chromatography . Mono Q cation-exchange chromatography and Superose 12 gel chromatography . Proteins were shown to form complexes of ca . 300 kDa and pI 4.7 . These complexes could not be dissociated in 6 M urea, however, during SDS-PAGE 79 and 39 kDa monomers were formed . Immunoblot analysis showed that the proteins under investigation were common to all listerial strains tested, but were absent in strains of other bacteria . We propose that the proteins investigated here could serve as immunoserological markers for Listeria. Arch Gynecol Obstet, 1992, 252(2), 109 - 12 Listeria monocytogenes . The role of transabdominal amniocentesis in febrile patients with preterm labor; Mazor M et al.; Two women with preterm labor and intraamniotic infection with Listeria Monocytogenes are presented . In both patients, the prenatal diagnosis of Listeriosis was made by transabdominal amniocentesis . The immediate prominent observation was meconium staining of the amniotic fluid . We propose that an amniocentesis should be performed in women with premature labor and fever . If the amniotic fluid is meconium stained and the Gram stain examination reveals Gram positive rods, Listeria Monocytogenes should be suspected and the patient should be treated accordingly until the culture results are obtained. Microbios, 1992, 70(284-285), 199 - 207 Characteristics of sodium benzoate injury of Listeria monocytogenes; Buazzi MM et al.; Over 99% of viable cells of Listeria monocytogenes were injured after exposure to a solution of 8.5% sodium benzoate (pH 7.0) for 1 h . Injury was evident by the inability of the bacterium to tolerate 6% NaCl in tryptose agar (TA) and the ability to grow on TA with no added salt . The colony-forming ability of the injured cells was restored when they recovered in tryptose broth containing sublethal amounts of metabolic or synthetic inhibitors . Synthesis of mRNA was critical for restoration of salt tolerance . Inhibition of electron transport, protein synthesis, or repair of the cell wall did not suppress recovery of the cells . Changes in the cell membrane which may have occurred did not allow soluble proteins or nucleotides to leak during the course of benzoate injury. Microb Pathog, 1992 Jan, 12(1), 79 - 86 Detection of genes coding for listeriolysin and Listeria monocytogenes antigen A (ImaA) in Listeria spp . by the polymerase chain reaction; Johnson WM et al.; Two pairs of synthetic oligonucleotide primers were used in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol to detect targeted sequences in genes coding for listeriolysin O and Listeria monocytogenes antigen A (ImaA) . Strains of Listeria spp . used in this study were isolated from clinical specimens, contaminated foods, and environmental sources . Primers were targeted to internal regions of the genes coding for listeriolysin (hlyA) and Listeria antigen (ImaA) and amplification fragments were detected after the PCR by agarose gel electrophoresis . PCR was performed using nucleic acids extracted from a collection of 74 strains of Listeria spp . including 18 reference strains, 41 L . monocytogenes, nine L . innocua, five L . seeligeri and one L . ivanovii, encompassing representative sources, serovars, and enzyme electrophoretic types . Although the listeriolysin gene was found exclusively in L . monocytogenes, some strains of serovar 4c were negative . Simultaneous presence of both genes was restricted to L . monocytogenes strains of serovars 1/2, 3, and 4 . The ImaA gene was identified in five of 10 L . innocua strains and one L . ivanovii isolated from pork . Strains of L . seeligeri, L . welshimeri, and L . grayi were negative for both genes . The detection limits in the PCR were found to be 10 pg of nucleic acids for the hlyA gene and 1 pg for the ImaA gene. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, 1992, 87 Suppl 5, 91 - 4 Immunity to intracellular bacteria; Kaufmann SH et al.; Immunity to intracellular bacteria including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium leprae, and Listeria monocytogenes depends on specific T cells . Evidence to be described suggests that CD4 alpha/beta T cells, CD8 alpha/beta T cells and gamma/delta T cells which interact with each other and with macrophages contribute to acquired resistance against as well as pathogenesis of intracellular bacterial infections. Rev Elev Med Vet Pays Trop, 1992, 45(3-4), 263 - 4 An outbreak of listeriosis in cattle in Nigeria; Akpavie SO et al.; An outbreak of listeriosis in a herd of cattle associated with still birth, abortion, nervous signs and death is reported . Typical micro abscesses in the brain were not observed on histopathology but a marked purulent meningitis was seen and Listeria monocytogenes was isolated on culture. J Clin Periodontol, 1992 Jan, 19(1), 19 - 23 The effect of 3 mouthrinses on plaque and gingivitis development; Maruniak J et al.; The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 3 mouthrinses, Listerine Antiseptic (thymol), Peridex (chlorhexidine), Perimed (povidone iodine and hydrogen peroxide), and a placebo (water) on the development of dental plaque and gingivitis, when used as the only oral hygiene procedure for 14 days . 71 subjects were entered into a randomized, double-blind study . At the baseline examination, papillary bleeding score (PBS), and plaque index (PI) were registered, after which subjects received supragingival prophylaxis and were assigned to 1 of 4 study cells . Subjects were asked to refrain from all oral hygiene procedures except for the supervised 14-day 2 x daily rinsing with the assigned preparation . At day 14, the same clinical parameters were again registered . Statistical analysis was performed by a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to compare the 4 groups, followed by Duncan's multiple range test to determine specific group differences . At baseline, average PBS and PI scores were similar for all 4 groups . After 14 days, the average PBS for Peridex and Perimed was significantly lower than for Listerine Antiseptic and water . The frequency of interdental units with a PBS greater than 2 was significantly lower for Peridex and Perimed than for Listerine Antiseptic and water . We concluded that both Peridex and Perimed were effective in reducing plaque and gingivitis when used as a 2 x daily mouthrinse by subjects refraining from other oral hygiene procedures . In vitro, a synergistic effect was assumed when inhibition was achieved with Perimed at the same or greater dilution than was achieved with povidone-iodine alone. Arch Inst Pasteur Alger, 1992, 58, 145 - 59 {Listeria serotyping}; Belouni R et al.; Serotyping of Listeria has contributed to bring to light on the origin of outbreaks listeriosis; on the other hand, it is also an additional expression for the identification of Listeria genus . In order to get better in this field, we have produced five factors sera: I, I/II, V/VI, VI, VII. Arch Inst Pasteur Alger, 1992, 58, 125 - 44 {Prospective study of Listeria in humans and animals}; Belouni R et al.; During 1967 to 1985, three cases of listeriosis were reported in Algeria; at that time Listeria monocytogenes caused several thousand cases of meningitis and sepsis in the world . In order to determine the frequency and bacteriologic characteristics of strain isolated in Algeria, a prospective investigation was carried from 1985 to 1989 in humans and animals samples . Sensitivity tests to antibiotics (MIC) point out that all isolates strains are resistant to cephalosporins (first and third generation), but are susceptible to Ampicillin and Gentamicin which ought to constitute the treatment basis of listeriosis. Przegl Epidemiol, 1992, 46(3), 187 - 94 {Listeriosis--selected aspects of laboratory diagnosis and epidemiology}; Kuklinska D et al.; This review presents distribution of human listeriosis in the world including the large food-borne outbreaks in USA and Canada with the rising number of cases especially in Europe . Usefulness of food examination for L . monocytogenes is discussed . Methods for differentiation L . monocytogenes from other Listeria species and other genera are presented. Intensive Care Med, 1992, 18(8), 485 - 7 Failure of thiamphenicol in a penicillin-allergic patient with Listeria meningoencephalitis--delayed cure following penicillin desensitization; Malvy D et al.; A 27-year-old woman, without compromised immunodefenses, experienced a Listeria meningoencephalitis, with brainstem symptoms . The identified agent exhibited p