L. monocytogenes attaches to E-cadherin on the surface of epithelial cells and induces its own uptake by the zipper mechanism (see Figure 25-25A). Within the phagosome, the bacterium secretes the hydrophobic protein hemolysin, which forms oligomers in the host cell membrane, thereby creating large pores and eventually disrupting the membrane. Once in the host cell cytosol, the bacteria begin to replicate and continue to secrete hemolysin. Because the hemolysin is rapidly degraded by proteasomes, the host cell plasma membrane remains intact.