The repression of listeriolysin O expression in Listeria monocytogenes by the phenolic beta-D-glucoside, arbutin.

Expression of the listeriolysin O, a key virulence factor for Listeria monocytogenes, was monitored using a hlyA-luxAB transcriptional fusion. The phenolic beta-D-glucoside, arbutin, was found to repress the expression of the listeriolysin O at the level of transcription. In contrast, the structurally similar beta-glucoside salicin did not prevent expression of listeriolysin.