Listeria Monocytogenes

Polymerization of host actin at the Listeria monocytogenes surface provides a mechanism of intracellular motility for the bacteria after they invade eukaryotic cells. The micrograph is an image of a kidney epithelial cell from Potoroo tridactylis infected with Listeria monocytogenes. Filamentous actin is stained red with rhodamine phalloidin. The bacteria are stained green by indirect immunofluorescence with polyclonal antibody raised against Listeria monocytogenes. This is an example of research in the laboratory of Professor Daniel Portnoy in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology.

Photo submitted by Daniel Portnoy