Neurolisteriosis

Neurolisteriosis is a frequently fatal complication of invasive infection with the opportunistic pathogen Listeria monocytogenes , a Gram+ bacterium. Neurolisteriosis occurs primarily in humans and farm animals (sheep, goats, cows) and is associated with massive inflammation (meningoencephalitis). Farm animals suffer a peculiar form of neurolisteriosis that hits the brainstem (rhombencephalitis) and occurs also in humans. We strive to understand the pathomechanisms that promote neuroinvasion and intra-encephalic propagation of Listeria monocytogenes with the aim to identify new therapeutic targets to treat neurolisteriosis.

Currently we are investigating the fate of Listeria monocytogenes in various bovine phagocyte populations that infiltrate the brain during neurolisteriosis. Our data suggest that the intracellular life cycle of Listeria monocytogenes is dependent on the phagocyte origin and that the intracellular pathogen is able to prey on certain phagocytes.