Contributions of a LysR Transcriptional Regulator to Listeria monocytogenes Virulence and Identification of Its Regulons
Hossam Abdelhamed, Reshma Ramachandran, Lakshmi Narayanan, Ozan Özdemir, Acacia Cooper, Alicia K. Olivier, Attila Karsi, Mark L. Lawrence
Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes is the causative agent of listeriosis, an infectious and fatal disease of animals and humans. In this study, we have shown that lysR contributes to Listeria pathogenesis and replication in cell lines. We also highlight the importance of lysR in regulating the transcription of genes involved in different pathways that might be essential for the growth and persistence of L. monocytogenes in the host or under nutrient limitation. Better understanding L. monocytogenes pathogenesis and the role of various virulence factors is necessary for further development of prevention and control strategies.