The Genome-Sequenced Variant of Campylobacter jejuni NCTC 11168 and the Original Clonal Clinical Isolate Differ Markedly in Colonization, Gene Expression, and Virulence-Associated Phenotypes

• DOI: 10.1128/jb.186.2.503-517.2004
• Publication Date: 2003-12-31T18:23:05Z
• Authors: Erin C. Gaynor; Shaun Cawthraw; Georgina Manning; Joanna K. MacKichan; Stanley Falkow; Diane G. Newell
• Keywords: Bacterial Genetics

The genome sequence of the enteric bacterial pathogen Campylobacter jejuni NCTC 11168 (11168-GS) was published in 2000, providing a valuable resource for identification C. jejuni-specific colonization and virulence factors. Surprisingly, 11168-GS clone subsequently found to colonize 1-day-old chicks following oral challenge very poorly compared other strains. In contrast, we have that original clinical isolate from which derived, 11168-O, is an excellent colonizer chicks. Other marked phenotypic differences were also identified: 11168-O invaded translocated through tissue culture cells far more efficiently rapidly than 11168-GS, significantly motile, displayed different morphology. Serotyping, multiple high-resolution molecular genotyping procedures, subtractive hybridization did not yield observable genetic between variants, suggesting they are clonal. However, microarray transcriptional profiling these strains under microaerobic severely oxygen-limited conditions revealed dramatic expression several gene families. Many respiration metabolism genes operons, adaptation oxygen tensions may influence potential. This correlates biologically with our observation anaerobically priming or aerobically passaging caused increase decrease, respectively, parent strain. Expression observed flagellar less well-characterized participate motility. Targeted sequencing sigma factors specific DNA undetected by genomic methods [corrected].