[Listeria monocytogenes: a dangerous pathogen used as a vector for the new generation of vaccines].

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes (LM) has become a major pathogen of human foodborne illnesses eliciting meningitis, peritonitis, and abortions with a mortality rate of about 30%. During the course of the disease, LM infects a variety of tissues and cell types due to its capacity to induce its own phagocytosis even into non-phagocytic cells. For over 35 years LM continues to serve as a model to define general paradigms of immunology In this review we focus on the clinical characteristics of listeriosis, on the risk factors involved in the pathogenesis, and discuss the currently accepted approaches to prophylaxis and treatment. We report on novel strategies in vaccine development based on the LM-dependent delivering machinery for immune recognition and induction of immunological memory against desired antigens.