Abstract
BackgroundCiliated ependymal cells line the cerebral ventricles and aqueducts separating the infected CSF from the brain parenchyma in meningitis.Principal FindingsInvestigation of the interaction of Listeria monocytogenes with cultured rat brain ependymal cells showed that certain strains reduced the beat frequency of the cilia but all the strains studied significantly reduced the ciliary beat amplitude (the linear distance travelled by the tip of each cilium per beat cycle).ConclusionThe presence of the ependyma caused aggregation of some listeria strains and in some cases extracellular material also was seen in association with bacterial aggregates. These observations were dependent on the expression of genes required for invasion, intracellular survival and listerial cell to cell spread that are regulated by the transcriptional activator, positive regulatory factor A (PrfA).
Highlights
Listeria monocytogenes is a food-borne pathogen that, if ingested, has the potential to enter the systemic circulation and move from the blood to penetrate the blood-brain barrier to cause meningitis and meningoencephalitis, especially in the unborn and newborn infant [1,2]
Ependymal cells from newborn Wistar rats were grown in culture until ciliated (Fig. 1A, 1B and S1) and were incubated with wild-type strains of L. monocytogenes for three hours at 37uC
The behaviour of both the ependymal cilia and the listeria were altered in these co-cultures but the alterations were dependent on the strain of L. monocytogenes
Summary
Listeria monocytogenes is a food-borne pathogen that, if ingested, has the potential to enter the systemic circulation and move from the blood to penetrate the blood-brain barrier to cause meningitis and meningoencephalitis, especially in the unborn and newborn infant [1,2]. Bacteria in the cerebrospinal fluid are separated from the neuronal tissue adjacent to the ventricular system and aqueducts, by the ependyma. The ependyma is a single, uninterrupted, layer of ciliated cells that lines the cerebral ventricles, cerebral aqueducts and the central canal of the spinal cord. The ependymal cilia are thought to act as a barrier to pathogen infection of the underlying neuronal tissue [5]. Prior to the entry of listeria into the cells of the brain the bacteria need to overcome this mechanical beating of the cilia. Ciliated ependymal cells line the cerebral ventricles and aqueducts separating the infected CSF from the brain parenchyma in meningitis
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
