Studies on Campylobacter sputorum subspecies Mucosalis

Biological roles of the O-methyl phosphoramidate capsule modification in Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacter jejuni is a major cause of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide, and the capsular polysaccharide (CPS) of this organism is required for persistence and disease. C. jejuni produces over 47 different capsular structures, including a unique O-methyl phosphoramidate (MeOPN) modification present on most C. jejuni isolates. Although the MeOPN structure is rare in nature it has structural similarity to some synthetic pesticides. In this study, we have demonstrated, by whole genome comparisons and high resolution magic angle spinning NMR, that MeOPN modifications are common to several Campylobacter species. Using MeOPN biosynthesis and transferase mutants generated in C. jejuni strain 81-176, we observed that loss of MeOPN from the cell surface correlated with increased invasion of Caco-2 epithelial cells and reduced resistance to killing by human serum. In C. jejuni, the observed serum mediated killing was determined to result primarily from activation of the classical complement pathway. The C. jejuni MeOPN transferase mutant showed similar levels of colonization relative to the wild-type in chickens, but showed a five-fold drop in colonization when co-infected with the wild-type in piglets. In Galleria mellonella waxmoth larvae, the MeOPN transferase mutant was able to kill the insects at wild-type levels. Furthermore, injection of the larvae with MeOPN-linked monosaccharides or CPS purified from the wild-type strain did not result in larval killing, indicating that MeOPN does not have inherent insecticidal activity.

Infection of cultured rat enterocytes by Ileal symbiont intracellularis depends on host cell function and actin polymerisation

The mechanisms of entry of Ileal symbiont intracellularis into IEC-18 rat enterocyte cells and subsequent bacterial proliferation were examined in centrifuge-assisted and static infections. Live, oxygen or neomycin damaged, and formalin killed bacteria, each rapidly entered viable cells. Live or damaged bacteria did not enter cells nor proliferate within cells after static infection of cells cooled to 5 degrees C. Infection of cells was greatly reduced at 20 degrees or 32 degrees compared to infection at 37 degrees C. Centrifuge-assisted infection was also reduced by chilling the cells. Cytochalasin D but not B inhibited the entry process indicating an actin-dependent infection, although other pathways may also be involved in centrifuge-assisted infections. Drugs capable of modifying cell membrane charge, heparin receptors or trypsin-labile proteins were all inactive in preventing or enhancing infection. We therefore conclude that infection of enterocytes by IS intracellularis is dependent on host cell activity and actin polymerization, but is independent of bacterial viability.

Production of a monoclonal antibody that recognizes the lipopolysaccharide of a Campylobacter-like organism

A monoclonal antibody was produced to a Campylobacter-like organism (RMIT 32A) which was isolated from the terminal ileum of a pig with proliferative enteritis. Isotyping of the antibody revealed that it was an IgG2a with kappa light chains. Immunoblots using the antibody against proteinase-K-treated whole cell lysates of RMIT 32A, a selection of Campylobacter species and other enteric bacteria showed that the antibody was specific for RMIT 32A and was directed against the lipopolysaccharide. This antibody can be used for the specific detection of RMIT 32A.

Possible relationship of proliferative enteritis in pigs and hamsters

Three- to six-week-old hamsters were orally inoculated with broths containing one of the following cultures: Campylobacter mucosalis; C. hyointestinalis; C. coli; C. jejuni, all of porcine proliferative enteritis origin, or else C. jejuni of hamster origin. Hamsters given the last of those organisms were shown to have colonisation of their intestines by C. jejuni and 36 of 40 developed an acute enteritis. Mild hyperplasia of enterocytes in ileal crypts was evident in one hamster 2 days after it was given C. coli. No other lesions were detected. Further 3-week-old hamsters were orally inoculated with homogenised intestinal mucosa collected from 4 pigs (A-D) affected by proliferative enteritis. Lesions of proliferative enteritis were detected in 7 of 41 hamsters necropsied 10-21 days after being dosed with mucosas B or D. Marked hyperplasia of ileal enterocytes, associated with numerous intracellular Campylobacter-like organisms, were invariably detected in experimentally affected hamsters. No particular Campylobacter sp. was consistently isolated. None of the controls had demonstrable lesions. The results suggested that cross-species transmission of proliferative enteritis was possible from pigs to hamsters. Therefore a common initiating or aetiological agent may be present. No specific organism was identified as filling this role by inoculation of hamsters with pure cultures.

Demonstration of a new intracellular antigen in porcine intestinal adenomatosis and hamster proliferative ileitis

In the proliferate enteropathies of the pig, intracellular Campylobacter-like organisms can be demonstrated in the apical cytoplasm of affected cells. A new antigen (omega) can be visualised at the site of bacterial parasitism using certain rabbit sera in a sandwich immunofluorescence test; the rabbit sera tested were largely derived from rabbits immunised with bacterial antigens including Campylobacter spp., but it appeared that the reaction was not related to the immunisation procedure and was also present in at least one "normal" rabbit serum. Rabbits immunised with bacteria extracted from the tissues sero-converted to omega-antigen yet did not react with Campylobacter spp., cultured from pig intestine. The omega-antigen was also present in the lesions of hamster proliferative ileitis.

Adenomatous intestinal hyperplasia in guinea pigs associated with Campylobacter-like bacteria

Adenomatous intestinal hyperplasia was diagnosed in two dams and five young guinea pigs. The pathological condition was characterized by diarrhea and the thickened, rugose jejunum and ileum. Adenomatous proliferation of immature crypt epithelial cells was observed primarily in the ileum and the distal part of the jejunum. Immature epithelial cells contained various numbers of intracytoplasmic, non-membrane bound, curved organisms resembling Campylobacter sp. bacteria.

30 years of campylobacters: biochemical characteristics and a biotyping proposal for Campylobacter jejuni

Several biochemical test systems were studied for their potential usefulness for the examination of strains of Campylobacter species. Most (81%) of the C. jejuni strains hydrolyzed sodium hippurate, but strains of C. fetus, C. sputorum, and C. fecalis did not. Some (46%) of the C. jejuni strains and all of the C. sputorum subsp. sputorum, C. sputorum subsp. bubulus, and C. fecalis strains hydrolyzed DNA, but the C. fetus and C. sputorum subsp. mucosalis strains did not. Strains of all species of Campylobacter grew on charcoal-yeast extract agar, but 47% of the C. jejuni strains did not. Alkaline phosphatase activity was recorded for some strains of C. jejuni, but all other species were negative for this activity. Aryl sulfatase activity was detected in 7% of the C. jejuni, 15% of the C. fetus subsp. fetus, and all of the C. sputorum subsp. sputorum, C. sputorum subsp. bubulus, and C. fecalis strains, but it was not detected in the C. fetus subsp. venerealis and C. sputorum subsp. mucosalis strains. Most (93%) of the C. jejuni but none of the other Campylobacter strains contained lactobacillic acid when examined for cellular fatty acids. On the basis of results from three of these tests (hippurate hydrolysis, DNA hydrolysis, and growth on charcoal-yeast extract agar), clinical strains of C. jejuni were placed in eight biotypes.