The Listeriolysin O PEST-like Sequence Co-opts AP-2-Mediated Endocytosis to Prevent Plasma Membrane Damage during Listeria Infection (Cell Host & Microbe)

The intracellular pathogen Listeria produces Listeriolysin O (LLO), a cytolysin. Chen et al. discovered that the PEST-like sequence of LLO interacts with a cellular endocytosis adaptor to promote the endocytosis of plasma membrane-associated LLO, thereby preventing its cytotoxicity to the infected cell. This mechanism is critical for Listeria pathogenesis.