SmcL, a novel membrane-damaging virulence factor in Listeria
Investigation published in International Journal of Medical Microbiology
October 1st, 2000
We describe here the fourth listerial membrane-damaging virulence factor, a sphingomyelinase C (SMase) that is produced specifically by the ruminant pathogen Listeria ivanovii. Its coding gene, smcL, is a monocistron expressed independently of PrfA. The smcL product, SmcL, is highly similar to the staphylococcal beta-toxin and is responsible for the differential hemolytic properties of L. ivanovii (bizonal hemolysis and CAMP-like reaction with R. equi). The role of SmcL in virulence was assessed by gene disruption and complementation. Our data show that SmcL mediates disruption of the membrane of primary phagosomes, thereby promoting bacterial intracellular proliferation. They also suggest that SmcL may play a role in host tropism. smcL is located in LIPI-2, a novel 18-kb pathogenicity island which also contains a cluster of internalin genes. LIPI-2 is unstable, L. ivanovii-specific and required for full virulence in mice and lambs
Gonzalez-Zorn B., Dominguez-Bernal G., Suarez M., Ripio MT., Vega Y., Novella S., Rodriguez-Bertos A., Chico I., Tierrez A. and Vazquez-Boland JA.
 | Departamento de Sanidad Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
| Servicio de Zoonosis de Transmisión Alimentaria y Resistencia a Antimicrobianos (ZTA). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
| Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía Animal. Grupo de Patogénesis Molecular Bacteriana. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
