Control of Listeria monocytogenes virulence by 5′-untranslated RNA

The Gram-positive bacterium Listeria monocytogenes uses a wide range of virulence factors for its pathogenesis. Expression of five of these factors has previously been shown to be subjected to post-transcriptional regulation as a result of their long 5′-untranslated region (5′-UTR). We have investigated the presence of 5′-UTRs among the other known virulence genes and genes that encode putatively virulence-associated surface proteins. Our results strongly suggest that L. monocytogenes controls many of its virulence genes by a mechanism that involves the 5′-UTR. These findings further emphasize the importance of post-transcriptional control for L. monocytogenes virulence.