Proteomic expression profiles of virulent and avirulent strains of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from macrophages

► Listeria monocytogenes strain HCC23 could not establish prolonged infection within macrophages. ► Virulent strains EGDe and F2365 proliferated for 7 h within macrophages. ► Metabolic and cell wall associated proteins were expressed intracellularly by HCC23, EGDe, and F2365 at 3 h post-infection. ► Increased expression of stress response and DNA repair proteins was associated with prolonged proliferation in macrophages.