Liposomal Nanotraps Neutralize Listeria monocytogenes Toxins to Enhance Macrophage Viability and Antibacterial Capacity

Abstract. Listeria monocytogenes is a human and veterinary pathogen, one of the most common agents of foodborne infections worldwide. It can cause severe complications such as meningitis or miscarriage. Antivirulence therapies, which target virulence factors such as pore-forming toxins, offer an alt...

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Main Authors: Hervé Besançon, Margherita Polidori, Andrea Hostettler, Victor Nizet, Anna Oevermann, Eduard Babiychuk
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Health 2025-06-01
Series:Infectious Microbes & Diseases
Online Access:http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/IM9.0000000000000177
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author Hervé Besançon
Margherita Polidori
Andrea Hostettler
Victor Nizet
Anna Oevermann
Eduard Babiychuk
author_facet Hervé Besançon
Margherita Polidori
Andrea Hostettler
Victor Nizet
Anna Oevermann
Eduard Babiychuk
author_sort Hervé Besançon
collection DOAJ
description Abstract. Listeria monocytogenes is a human and veterinary pathogen, one of the most common agents of foodborne infections worldwide. It can cause severe complications such as meningitis or miscarriage. Antivirulence therapies, which target virulence factors such as pore-forming toxins, offer an alternative approach to combating infections. In this study, cholesterol-containing liposomal nanotraps effectively neutralized L. monocytogenes exotoxins, particularly listeriolysin O, thereby protecting mammalian cells. Notably, toxin neutralization was observed under both neutral and acidic conditions, where listeriolysin O activity is optimized to facilitate bacterial escape from the phagosome. Liposomal nanotraps were phagocytosed by macrophages and colocalized with intracellular Listeria, increasing the clearance rate of intracellular bacteria. These findings expand the potential use of broad-spectrum liposomal nanotrap therapy, which could be employed alongside current standard of care treatments to assist the immune system in controlling virulent pathogens.
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issn 2641-5917
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publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Wolters Kluwer Health
record_format Article
series Infectious Microbes & Diseases
spelling doaj-art-a78a381e8fd14fb48f3438a2c2c9214e2025-08-20T03:33:07ZengWolters Kluwer HealthInfectious Microbes & Diseases2641-59172025-06-01729210010.1097/IM9.0000000000000177202506000-00004Liposomal Nanotraps Neutralize Listeria monocytogenes Toxins to Enhance Macrophage Viability and Antibacterial CapacityHervé Besançon0Margherita Polidori1Andrea Hostettler2Victor Nizet3Anna Oevermann4Eduard Babiychuk5Author affiliations: 1 Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland3 Division of Neurological Sciences, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandAuthor affiliations: 1 Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland2 Division of Host-Microbe Systems & Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA3 Division of Neurological Sciences, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandAuthor affiliations: 1 Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandAbstract. Listeria monocytogenes is a human and veterinary pathogen, one of the most common agents of foodborne infections worldwide. It can cause severe complications such as meningitis or miscarriage. Antivirulence therapies, which target virulence factors such as pore-forming toxins, offer an alternative approach to combating infections. In this study, cholesterol-containing liposomal nanotraps effectively neutralized L. monocytogenes exotoxins, particularly listeriolysin O, thereby protecting mammalian cells. Notably, toxin neutralization was observed under both neutral and acidic conditions, where listeriolysin O activity is optimized to facilitate bacterial escape from the phagosome. Liposomal nanotraps were phagocytosed by macrophages and colocalized with intracellular Listeria, increasing the clearance rate of intracellular bacteria. These findings expand the potential use of broad-spectrum liposomal nanotrap therapy, which could be employed alongside current standard of care treatments to assist the immune system in controlling virulent pathogens.http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/IM9.0000000000000177
spellingShingle Hervé Besançon
Margherita Polidori
Andrea Hostettler
Victor Nizet
Anna Oevermann
Eduard Babiychuk
Liposomal Nanotraps Neutralize Listeria monocytogenes Toxins to Enhance Macrophage Viability and Antibacterial Capacity
Infectious Microbes & Diseases
title Liposomal Nanotraps Neutralize Listeria monocytogenes Toxins to Enhance Macrophage Viability and Antibacterial Capacity
title_full Liposomal Nanotraps Neutralize Listeria monocytogenes Toxins to Enhance Macrophage Viability and Antibacterial Capacity
title_fullStr Liposomal Nanotraps Neutralize Listeria monocytogenes Toxins to Enhance Macrophage Viability and Antibacterial Capacity
title_full_unstemmed Liposomal Nanotraps Neutralize Listeria monocytogenes Toxins to Enhance Macrophage Viability and Antibacterial Capacity
title_short Liposomal Nanotraps Neutralize Listeria monocytogenes Toxins to Enhance Macrophage Viability and Antibacterial Capacity
title_sort liposomal nanotraps neutralize listeria monocytogenes toxins to enhance macrophage viability and antibacterial capacity
url http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/IM9.0000000000000177
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