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| Author(s): |
Cristina Durante Cruz
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Doctoral Thesis |
| Press: | São Paulo. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Conjunto das Químicas (IQ e FCF) (CQ/DBDCQ) |
| Defense date: | 2007-07-02 |
| Examining board members: |
Maria Teresa Destro;
Dahir Ramos de Andrade Junior;
Waldir Pereira Elias Junior;
Marina Baquerizo Martinez;
Rosa Maria Silva
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| Advisor: | Maria Teresa Destro; Marina Baquerizo Martinez |
| Abstract | |
Listeria monocytogenes is a facultative intracellular pathogen responsible for listeriose, a foodborne disease. Amongst the 13 serotypes of L. monocytogenes, the serotype 4b is more frequently isolated from clinical samples while the serotypes 1/2a, 1/2b and 1/2c are associated with food and food processing environment. The study of the virulence variability of four L. monocytogenes strains recently isolated (1/2B - food; 1/2C and 4BENV - food processing environment; 4BCLIN blood), as well as two strains of listeriosis (P14 and P14A) was the aim of this work. Eukaryotic cellular models HeLa, MDBK and L929 were used to evaluate the invasion capacity, intracellular proliferation, cytotoxicity, intercellular dissemination and polymerization of actin tails of L. monocytogenes strains. Gene transcription of the virulence genes actA, plcA and plcB was also conducted. The food isolate 1/2B presented invasion characteristics, multiplication index (IGC), as well as the intercellular dissemination, similar to the clinical strains P14 and 4BCLIN in HeLa cells. Environmental strains (1/2C and 4BENV), although showing a low capacity of invasion in all cellular models, had the highest IGC comparing to the other isolates. They also showed similar to or higher intercellular dissemination than the clinical ones, depending on the cell line used. The clinical strains 4BCLIN, P14, P14A presented greater invasion capacity in MDBK and L929 cells than all other isolates. However, in relation to the intracellular population (CFU/mL) the isolates 4BCLIN and P14A showed superior results. These strains were also cytotoxic to HeLa cells, inducing LDH release and death due to necrosis. The food, environmental and P14 isolates were not cytotoxic to HeLa and MDBK cells. There was no statistical difference in actin tail polymerization between the strains. The non-clinical isolates (1/2B, 1/2C and 4BENV) presented higher number of transcripts for than the clinical ones. In conclusion, all L. monocytogenes strains studied showed pathogenic potential, based on expression of at least two characteristics related to the virulence of the species. The presence of these strains in food represents public health risk. (AU) | |