Listeria monocytogenes ferritin protects against multiple stresses and is required for virulence

• Published in: FEMS microbiology letters Vol. 250; no. 2; pp. 253 - 261
• Main Authors: Dussurget, Olivier, Dumas, Emilie, Archambaud, Cristel, Chafsey, Ingrid, Chambon, Christophe, Hébraud, Michel, Cossart, Pascale
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Elsevier B.V 15.09.2005; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Blackwell; Oxford University Press; Wiley-Blackwell
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological; Animals; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Bacterial Proteins - physiology; Bacterial Toxins - analysis; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Cold shock; Disease Models, Animal; Dps; Ferritin; Ferritins - genetics; Ferritins - physiology; Food irradiation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Deletion; Genetic Complementation Test; Heat shock proteins; Heat-Shock Proteins - analysis; Hemolysin Proteins; Life Sciences; Listeria; Listeria monocytogenes; Listeria monocytogenes - growth & development; Listeria monocytogenes - pathogenicity; Listeriolysin O; Metabolism. Enzymes; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Microbiology; Microbiology and Parasitology; Pathogenesis; Pathogenicity, virulence, toxins, bacteriocins, pyrogens, host-bacteria relations, miscellaneous strains; Phenotypes; Proteome; Proteome - analysis; Reactive oxygen species; Stress; Stress proteins; Virulence; Virulence - genetics; Virulence Factors - physiology; Proteome; Listeria; Pathogenesis; Dps; Stress; Ferritin; Site directed mutagenesis; Listeria monocytogenes; Listeriosis; Infection; Minimum inhibitory concentration; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Complementation; Two dimensional electrophoresis; Mass spectrometry; PATHOGENESIS; PROTEOME; DPS; LISTERIOLYSIN O; FERRITIN; STRESS; HEAT-SHOCK PROTEIN; VIRULENCE
• ISSN: 0378-1097; 1574-6968
• DOI: 10.1016/j.femsle.2005.07.015

In this study, the role of Listeria monocytogenes ferritin was investigated. The fri gene encoding the ferritin was deleted and the phenotype of the mutant was analyzed demonstrating that ferritin is necessary for optimal growth in minimal medium in both presence and absence of iron, as well as after cold- and heat-shock. We also showed that ferritin provides protection against reactive oxygen species and is essential for full virulence of L. monocytogenes. A comparative proteomic analysis revealed an effect of the fri deletion on the levels of listeriolysin O and several stress proteins. Together, our study demonstrates that fri has multiple roles that contribute to Listeria virulence.