A Role for Taok2 in Listeria Monocytogenes Vacuolar Escape

The bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) invades host cells, ruptures its internalization vacuole and reaches the cytosol for replication. A high-content siRNA microscopy screen allowed us to identify epithelial cell factors involved in Lm vacuolar rupture, among them the serine/threonine kinase Taok2. Kinase activity inhibition using a specific drug validated a role for Taok2 in favoring Lm cytoplasmic access. Furthermore, we showed that Taok2 recruitment to Lm vacuoles requires the presence of pore-forming toxin listeriolysin O. Overall, our study identifies the first set of host factors modulating Lm vacuolar rupture and cytoplasmic access in epithelial cells.