History and epidemiology of listeriosis.
Listeriae are used as a tool by different specialities in biomedical research. There are now at least four major fields of interest in Listeria: (1). the role in medical microbiology: Listeria monocytogenes causes severe diseases of men and animals and is difficult to treat; (2). the role in food microbiology: Listeria is a food-borne pathogen and is found in various food items; (3). the role in cell biology: L. monocytogenes is a facultative intracellular parasite having an intense cross-talk and interactions with the host cell; (4). the role in immunology: basic knowledge on cell-mediated immunity has been acquired through the model of listeriosis. This paper presents information on the past and the actual situation in research on Listeria and listeriosis.
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Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Faculty of Clinical Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor Kutzer Ufer, 68167 Mannheim, Germany. herbert.hof@imh.ma.uni-heidelberg.de
D000818:Animals; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005511:Food Handling / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005516:Food Microbiology; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008087:Listeria / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history / Q000635:transmission; D011247:Pregnancy; D014774:Virulence