RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Meng, Rizeng A1 Zhao, Ziwen A1 Guo, Na A1 Liu, Zonghui A1 Zhao, Xingchen A1 Li, Wenli A1 Li, Xiaoxu A1 Shi, Ce A1 Nie, Dandan A1 Wang, Weilin A1 Liu, Tao A1 Ma, Wenchen A1 Yu, Lu A1 Li, JuanYR 2015 T1 Effect of honokiol on exotoxin proteins listeriolysin O and p60 secreted by Listeria monocytogenes JF Journal of Medical Microbiology, VO 64 IS 12 SP 1474 OP 1480 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.000183 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1473-5644, AB Listeria monocytogenes is considered one of the most important foodborne pathogens. The virulence-related proteins listeriolysin O (LLO) and p60 are critical factors involved in Listeria pathogenesis. In the present study, we investigated the effect of honokiol on LLO and p60 secreted from L. monocytogenes. A listeriolysin assay was used to investigate the haemolytic activities of L. monocytogenes exposed to honokiol, and the secretion of LLO and p60 was detected by immunoblot analysis. Additionally, the influence of honokiol on the transcription of LLO and p60 genes (hly and iap, respectively) was analysed by real-time reverse transcription PCR. TNF-α release assays were performed to elucidate the biological relevance of changes in LLO and p60 secretion induced by honokiol. According to the data, honokiol showed good anti-L. monocytogenes activity, with MICs of 8–16 μg ml− 1, and the secretion of LLO and p60 was decreased by honokiol. In addition, the transcription of hly and iap was inhibited by honokiol. Our results indicate that TNF-α production by RAW264.7 cells stimulated with L. monocytogenes supernatants was inhibited by honokiol. Based on these data, we propose that honokiol could be used as a promising natural compound against L. monocytogenes and its virulence factors., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.000183