Acanthamoeba release compounds which promote growth of Listeria monocytogenes and other bacteria
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Date
2014-04
Publication Type
Journal Article
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yes
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Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes can grow as a saphrophyte in diverse habitats, e.g., soil, rivers, lakes, and on decaying plant material. In these environments, the bacteria are frequently exposed to predatory protozoa such as Acanthamoeba. Although L. monocytogenes is a facultative intracellular pathogen it does not infect or survive intracellular in Acanthamoeba castellanii, unlike several other facultative intracellular bacteria. Instead, motile L. monocytogenes can form large aggregates on amoebal cells and are effectively phagocytosed and eventually digested by Acanthamoeba. Here, we demonstrate that non-motile L. monocytogenes represent a less preferred prey in co-cultures with A. castellanii. Moreover, we found that the presence of Acanthamoeba strongly promotes growth of the bacteria in non-nutrient saline, by releasing nutrients or other growth promoters. Thus, the lack of motility and ability to utilize amoebal metabolites may aid to avoid eradication by amoebal predation in low-nutrient environments.
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Publication status
published
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Book title
Journal / series
Volume
98 (7)
Pages / Article No.
3091 - 3097
Publisher
Springer
Event
Edition / version
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Date collected
Date created
Subject
Listeria monocytogenes; Acanthamoeba castellanii; Co-culture; Growth promotion; Secreted metabolites
Organisational unit
03651 - Loessner, Martin / Loessner, Martin
Notes
It was possible to publish this article open access thanks to a Swiss National Licence with the publisher.