Despite somewhat similar-sounding names, Listeria and lysine aren't related to one another. Listeria is a bacterial infection that you can get from eating contaminated food. Lysine, on the other hand, is an amino acid --- one of the building blocks of protein. Like all living organisms, Listeria bacteria contain some lysine --- but that's as far as the relationship extends.
Listeriosis
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterial species that can contaminate certain foods, especially unpasteurized milk and improperly stored meat. According to PubMed Health, if you become infected with the bacteria, they can affect many different organ systems, leading to multiple possible symptoms. This can make diagnosis quite difficult. Healthy adults aren't commonly infected, however, as their immune systems can prevent illness effectively. Enzymes in your saliva and stomach acid provide natural barriers to bacterial infection in many cases.
Pregnant Women
One major concern with regard to Listeria is that pregnant women have suppressed immune systems, making them more susceptible to infection by the bacteria. For this reason, if you're pregnant, you should avoid soft cheeses and deli meats, explains AmericanPregnancy.org. If you're infected, infection can spread to your fetus. The prognosis for fetuses infected with Listeria is quite poor. Symptoms of Listeria in pregnant women include flu symptoms, aching, and symptoms of food poisoning. Infection puts you at significant risk for miscarriage.
Lysine
Lysine is an amino acid, and like the other 19 common amino acids, it's one of the building blocks of the proteins you eat and the proteins in your body. It's a relatively small molecule, and is classified as one of the three basic --- meaning opposite of acidic --- amino acids, explain Drs. Reginald Garrett and Charles Grisham in their book "Biochemistry." The only connection between lysine and Listeria is that bacteria are made up of many different proteins --- just as all living organisms are --- most of which contain some lysine.
Uses of Lysine
When you consume protein, your digestive tract breaks it into its constituent amino acids, which your small intestine then absorbs into the bloodstream. Your cells take up the amino acids --- lysine among them --- and use them for a variety of purposes. You can burn lysine for energy, just as you can burn sugar for energy. You can also use it to make your own cellular proteins, which serve both structural and functional purposes. You can also convert it into fat and store it for later energy use.
References
- PubMed Health: Listeria
- AmericanPregnancy.org: Listeria
- "Biochemistry"; Reginald Garrett, Ph.D. and Charles Grisham, Ph.D.; 2007
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