title: Listeria monocytogenes reactive T lymphocytes in healthy individuals.
abstract: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy individuals were enriched for T lymphocytes and stimulated with killed organisms of Listeria sp. Different strains of Listeria sp. induced comparable T cell responses independent from their pathogenicity and virulence. Evidence is presented that killed L. monocytogenes organisms lacked mitogenic activity for human B and T lymphocytes. It is concluded that Listeria reactive T lymphocytes are commonly present in healthy individuals and hence may contribute to the rare occurrence of listeriosis in normal adults.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Immunobiologie, Freiburg, FRG.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Munk
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008934:Mitogens / Q000276:immunology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D008934:Mitogens