Intracellular dynamics and stress response in Listeria monocytogenes

This thesis examines how bacteria maintain internal balance and adapt to different environments through the process of diffusion, which allows molecules to move and interact within cells. The study focuses on Listeria monocytogenes, an important pathogen, investigating protein movements under various conditions. The findings reveal the pathogen’s unique ability to tolerate hypertonic stress and the importance of understanding the effects of temperature on protein diffusion. The research also explores the localizations and movement dynamics of stressosome proteins in L. monocytogenes using super-resolution microscopy combined with physiological studies. The study has significant implications for our understanding of the physiology of L. monocytogenes and could pave the way for developing new strategies to control the pathogen. Additionally, advanced computer simulations are used to investigate protein diffusion in the periplasm of Escherichia coli. The study challenges previous assumptions regarding the confinement effect on protein diffusion in narrow spaces and reveals the substantial underestimation of the diffusion coefficient due to reflections from the surrounding membranes.

Dissertation: https://hdl.handle.net/11370/8ee16031-2052-496c-a99c-9065633ef4cb