Listeria clever at finding way into bloodstream.

• Position: Foodborne Illness - Brief article

Pathogenic listeria tricks intestinal cells into helping it pass through those cells to make people ill and, if that does not work, the bacteria simply goes around the cells, reveals a study at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.

Arun Bhunia, professor of food science, found that listeria, even in low doses, somehow triggers intestinal cells to express a new protein, heat shock protein 60, that acts as a receptor for listeria. This may allow the bacteria to enter the cells in the intestinal wall and exit into a person's bloodstream.

"It's possible that host cells generate more of these proteins in order to protect themselves during a stressful event such as infection," indicates microbiologist Kristin Burkhotder. "Our data suggests that listeria may benefit from this by actually using those proteins as receptors to enhance infection."

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne bacteria that can cause fever, muscle aches, nausea, and diarrhea, as well as...