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Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Subtyping of Campylobacter jejuni ssp. doylei Isolates Using Mass Spectrometry-based PhyloProteomics (MSPP)
Published on: October 30, 2016
Multilocus sequence typing system for Campylobacter jejuni
K E Dingle1, F M Colles, D R Wareing
1Wellcome Trust Centre for the Epidemiology of Infectious Disease, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3FY, United Kingdom.
A new multilocus sequence typing (MLST) system for Campylobacter jejuni provides insights into its population genetics. This method reveals genetic diversity and horizontal gene exchange, aiding epidemiological studies of this common cause of gastroenteritis.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Campylobacter jejuni is a significant cause of human gastroenteritis with widespread reservoirs.
- Limited population genetic analysis tools and nomenclature have hindered C. jejuni epidemiology studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and describe a multilocus sequence typing (MLST) system for C. jejuni.
- To analyze the population genetic structure and diversity of C. jejuni isolates.
Main Methods:
- Utilized genetic variation in seven housekeeping loci to establish an MLST system.
- Analyzed 194 C. jejuni isolates from human, animal, and environmental sources.
- Deposited allelic profiles (sequence types) online to create a virtual isolate collection.
Main Results:
- C. jejuni exhibits significant genetic diversity and a weakly clonal population structure.
- Common intra- and interspecies horizontal genetic exchange was observed.
- Identified 155 sequence types (STs), with 51 unique and the rest forming 11 distinct lineages or clonal complexes.
Conclusions:
- The developed MLST system is effective for studying C. jejuni population genetics and epidemiology.
- Findings provide a foundation for global C. jejuni epidemiological surveillance.
- The study highlights the genetic complexity and adaptability of C. jejuni.
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