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Discovery of an Unsuspected Strategy Used by the Listeria Bacterium during Infections

http://www.bulletins-electroniques.com/actualites/63939.htm

The pathogenic bacterium to blame for listeriosis in humans, Listeria monocytogenes is well-known for its ability to enter cells and manipulate different functions for its own benefit to escape the host's defenses. The strategies enable the bacterium to pass through the intestinal wall and other body barriers in the course of the infection in humans. Researchers at two Pasteur Institute units, the Bacteria-Cell Interaction Unit headed by Pascale Cossart and the Nuclear Organization and Oncogenesis Unit headed by Anne Dejean working with a team at the University of Ghent, Belgium, have discovered that Listeria produces a toxin that destroys SUMOylation. This a very important cellular process that generally enables a cell to tag proteins with a small modules called SUMO that change the properties of the targeted proteins. However, Listeria blocks the tagging process, as blockage is critical for the infection to be effective.

As this is the first research establishing a connection between an infection by a pathogenic bacterium and the SUMO peptides, it clears the way for new research avenues on numerous other pathogenic bacteria. The mechanism, which enables the bacterium to multiply and propagate efficiently, could be applied to other types of pathogenic bacteria. The research should provide valuable information to gain a firmer grasp on the bacteria and, eventually, to strengthen the fight against the bacteria to blame for major public health problems. The research is also important because the Listeria monocytogenes bacterium is widely found in nature (water, soil, plants and animals) and can contaminate numerous foods eaten by humans. The results of the research were published in the April 22, 2010 issue of Nature.

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Institut Pasteur :
- Unité "Interactions Bactéries-Cellules" (Bacteria-Cell Interactions Unit) - Pascale Cossart - email: pascale.cossart@pasteur.fr
- Unité de Recherche "Organisation Nucléaire et Oncogenèse" (Nuclear Organization and Oncogenesis research unit)- Anne Dejean - email: adejean@pasteur.fr

Code brève
ADIT : 63939

ADIT - Jean-François Desessard - email: jfd@adit.fr

eTech France numéro 243 (5/07/2010) - ADIT / ADIT - http://www.bulletins-electroniques.com/actualites/63939.htm