The intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes continues to serve as a model to define
general paradigms of cell-mediated immunity. Genetic manipulations of the bacterium and
its murine host have allowed us to begin dissecting the intricate interactions between this
bacterium and the immune system. As a result, we have gained new insights into the
mechanisms of immune surveillance, achieved better understanding of bacterial tactics for
immune evasion and developed novel strategies in vaccine development.