Manganese scavenging is required for virulence of the cytosolic pathogen Listeria monocytogenes
Metals are essential for all forms of life and are therefore the subject of tight competition at the host-pathogen interface. Manganese (Mn) is an important cofactor for enzymes involved in various processes in bacteria, including the response to oxidative stress, and the ability to scavenge Mn through the expression of high-affinity Mn transporters has been associated with virulence of many…
Manganese (Mn) plays a crucial role in the virulence of the cytosolic pathogen Listeria monocytogenes (Lmo). High-affinity Mn transporters, specifically MntH and MntABC, are essential for Lmo's ability to scavenge Mn and adapt to its intracellular environment. A strain of Lmo with disrupted MntH and MntABC transporters exhibited severe growth defects under Mn-limited conditions and lower intracellular Mn content.
Furthermore, Mn limitation heightened Lmo's susceptibility to oxidative stress, as observed in vitro. Intriguingly, the {Delta}mntH {Delta}mntA strain revealed that Mn limitation sensitizes Lmo to oxidative stress, aligning with Mn's role in neutralizing reactive oxygen species. Ultimately, the expression of high-affinity Mn transporters is indispensable for Lmo's replication within macrophages, plaque formation on fibroblast monolayers, and its virulence in a systemic infection animal model.
This evidence suggests that Lmo experiences challenges due to Mn limitation in the cytosol and necessitates Mn scavenging to successfully adapt to its intracellular niche.
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