Epidemiological association of Campylobacter jejuni groups with pathogenicity-associated genetic markers
2012 | journal article. A publication with affiliation to the University of Göttingen.
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Epidemiological association of Campylobacter jejuni groups with pathogenicity-associated genetic markers
Zautner, A. E.; Ohk, C.; Tareen, A. M.; Lugert, R. & Gross, U. (2012)
BMC Microbiology, 12 art. 171. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2180-12-171
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- Authors
- Zautner, Andreas Erich; Ohk, Carolin; Tareen, Abdul Malik; Lugert, Raimond; Gross, Uwe
- Abstract
- Background: Campylobacter jejuni, the most leading cause for bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide, shows a high genetic diversity among its isolates. Recently, we demonstrated the existence of six C. jejuni-groups by combining MLST with six genetic markers. These groups were further characterized by the detection of cj1321-cj1326, fucP, cj0178, cj0755/cfrA, ceuE, pldA, cstII, and cstIII in order (I.) to show further associations between these different genetic markers and MLST CCs. Moreover, different studies were able to associate several of these markers: a sialylated lipoologosaccharide (cstII/III+), the gamma-glytamyl-transpeptidase (ggt(+)), and the absence of a certain allele of the enterochelin-uptake-binding-protein (ceuE11168(-)) with severe campylobacteriosis, bloody diarrhea and unpleasant outcome. Additionally more than half of human Campylobacter-isolates were assigned to a non-livestock clade associated with the absence of cj1321-cj1326. These isolates were considered as mere colonizers. From the combination of marker genes, the ratio of human isolates in a specific group, and clinical data (II.) it should be demonstrated to which of the previous defined groups these Campylobacter-subpopulations, associated with higher virulence, correspond. Results: Besides the marker gene pldA, all new estimated genetic markers show significant differences in their distribution among the various MLST-based groups. Especially the genes for cj1321-cj1326, fucP, cj0178, cj0755/cfrA are widely associated with each other and split the study population into two major and seven intermediate groups substantiating the previous group-definition, whereas cstII and cstIII indicate at least three groups following an independent distribution pattern. Conclusions: Based on these data a group of C. jejuni-isolates characterized by the presence of ansB, dmsA, ggt, and the absence of cj1365c, cj1585c, cj1321-cj1326, fucP, cj0178, cj0755/cfrA, and cstII/III was associated with a higher prevalence in human campylobacteriosis, bloody diarrhea as well as hospitalization and bears obviously a higher virulence for humans. In contrast to that better livestock-adapted groups characterized by the ability to utilize L-fucose and the presence of all of the five identified putative C. jejuni iron-uptake systems as well as cj1321-cj1326, cj1365c, cj1585c, and cstII and/or cstIII (sialylated lipoologosaccharide) is more prevalent in animal hosts and was secondary associated with less severe campylobacteriosis.
- Issue Date
- 2012
- Status
- published
- Publisher
- Biomed Central Ltd
- Journal
- BMC Microbiology
- ISSN
- 1471-2180
- Sponsor
- Open-Access-Publikationsfonds 2012