Project description:We examined two variants of the genome-sequenced strain, Campylobacter jejuni NCTC11168, which show marked differences in their virulence properties including colonization of poultry, invasion of Caco-2 cells, and motility. Transcript profiles obtained from whole genome DNA microarrays and proteome analyses demonstrated that these differences are reflected in late flagellar structural components and in virulence factors including those involved in flagellar glycosylation, and cytolethal distending toxin production. We identified putative s28 and s54 promoters for many of the affected genes, and found that greater differences in expression were observed for s28-controlled genes. Inactivation of the gene encoding s28, fliA, resulted in an unexpected increase in transcripts with s54 promoters, as well as decreased transcription of s28-regulated genes. This was unlike the transcription profile observed for the attenuated C. jejuni variant, suggesting that the reduced virulence of this organism was not entirely due to impaired function of s28. However, inactivation of flhA, an important component of the flagellar export apparatus, resulted in expression patterns similar to that of the attenuated variant. These findings indicate that the flagellar regulatory system plays an important role in campylobacter pathogenesis and that flhA is a key element involved in the coordinate regulation of late flagellar genes and of virulence factors in C. jejuni. Furthermore, we provide a model for flagellar regulation, which forms a foundation for the study of the unique regulatory networks in this important human pathogen. Keywords: parallel sample
Project description:Transcriptional regulation mediates adaptation of pathogens to environmental stimuli and is important for host colonisation. The Campylobacter jejuni genome sequence reveals a surprisingly small set of regulators, mostly of unknown function, suggesting an intricate regulatory network. Interestingly, C. jejuni lacks the homologues of ubiquitous regulators involved in stress response found in many other Gram-negative bacteria. Nonetheless, cj1000 is predicted to code for the sole LysR-type regulator in the C. jejuni genome, and thus may be involved in major adaptation pathways. A cj1000 mutant strain was constructed and found to be attenuated in its ability to colonise 1-day old chicks. Complementation of cj1000 mutation restored the colonisation ability to that of wild type levels. The mutant strain was also outcompeted in a competitive colonisation assay of the piglet intestine. High resolution oxygraphy was carried out for the first time on C. jejuni and revealed a role for Cj1000 in controlling O2 consumption. Furthermore, microarray analysis of the cj1000 mutant revealed both direct and indirect regulatory targets, including genes involved in energy metabolism and oxidative stress defences. These results highlight the importance of Cj1000 regulation in host colonisation and in major physiological pathways.