ARS | Publication request: Evaluation of Eukaryotic Cell Invation on a Library of Genetically Diverse Campylobacter spp. Isolates.

Submitted to: International Association for Food Protection
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: April 14, 2008
Publication Date: August 6, 2008
Citation: Akins, E.D., Hiett, K.L., Holly, S., Erich, L., Richardson, L.J., Cox Jr, N.A., Harrison, M.A. 2008. Evaluation of Eukaryotic Cell Invation on a Library of Genetically Diverse Campylobacter spp. Isolates.. International Association for Food Protection.

Technical Abstract: Campylobacter spp. are the largest cause of sporadic bacterial gastrointestinal infection in the industrialized world. Epithelial cell invasion is thought to be necessary to bring about infection in humans. Invasion studies have shown that different Campylobacter jejuni isolates may differ in their ability to invade human cells. Non-invasive strains were isolated from patients with noninflammatory disease, while invasive strains have been isolated from patients with inflammatory diarrhea. The purpose of this study was to further evaluate Campylobacter isolates obtained from various sources on their ability to adhere and invade Caco-2 cells (human colon cells). In an effort to further investigate genetic variability (based on flaA short variable region (SVR) DNA sequence) and host specificity (humans, broilers, and breeders), 52 Campylobacter isolates originally recovered from Iceland (with well defined spatial and temporal backgrounds) were employed in invasion assay with Caco-2 cells, to determine whether the flaA SVR sequence analysis of Campylobacter spp. is indicative of potential virulence properties such as cell adherence and invasion. The range of adhesion was from 0.00008% to 3.4%. The range of invasion was 0.000003% to 1.2%. The control C. jejuni 81-176, had a percent adhesion rate of 0.083% and invasion rate of 0.75%. No correlation was found between the flaA SVR and cell adhesion and invasion, thus suggesting that invasiveness cannot be predicted on flaA SVR alone. The flaA SVR is not good predictor of the adhesion and invasiveness properties of Campylobacter. Additional DNA sequence investigations such as these are needed to further delineate mechanisms involved in Campylobacter spp. infection in humans.