In this study we confirmed that wild-type L. monocytogenes, but not Dhly mutants, triggered autophagy. However, our data from infection of atg5 2/2 BMDMs provided no evidence that autophagy had a measurable effect on bacterial escape from phagosomes or on intracellular growth. In contrast, autophagy slightly increased phagosomal escape and intracellular growth in transformed MEFs, which potentially highlights differences in autophagy utilization and/orfunction between various cell types. Additionally, our data provided no evidence that either ActA or bacterial phospholipases affect autophagy as measured by LC3I lipidation and autophagy-restrictive intracellular growth (some data not shown). Finally, by using heterologous expression of LLO and purified LLO encapsulated in liposomes, we showed that LLO activity was not only necessary but sufficient to trigger autophagy. These results are consistent with a model wherein phagosomal membrane damage induces autophagy.