PATHOGENESIS OF Listeria monocytogenes, MICROORGANISM ZOONOTIC EMERGENT

Listeria monocytogenes in addition to being a paradigm for the immunological investigation has become in an appropriate model system to the analysis of the molecular mechanisms of the intracellular parasitism of other bacteria strains. Inmunologyst were interested in this microorganism when was recognized as a risky organism for public health and the food industry security. From mid of the 80’s scientists have researched the molecular biology of virulence markers of this microorganism, the cellular biology of the interactions of these markers with the receptors of the host cell, the cytoskeleton, the transduction signals routes and the mechanisms of immunity mediated by the host cells. The intention of this review is to describe some taxonomic and phylogenetics characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes, the human and animal incidence of several serotypes, the physiopathology of the infection, animals models and cellular culture employed for virulence studies, the risk populations, clinical manifestations of human and animal listeriosis, the treatment, the genetic organization and evolution de the virulence markers, the mechanisms used to interact with the host cell, the mechanism to escape from the cellular death processes and to pass through an infected cell to another one. The compiled information is from great importance for the health personnel, consumers and risk population; reason for which Listeria monocytogenes it is a pathogen that represents a threat for world-wide the public health.