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Detection of Horizontal Gene Transfer Mediated by Natural Conjugative Plasmids in E. coli
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Identification and characterization of a major subgroup of conjugative Campylobacter jejuni plasmids

Ruprecht Schmidt-Ott1, Sven Pohl, Sebastian Burghard

  • 1Department of Bacteriology, University of Göttingen, Kreuzbergring 57, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany. rschmid1@gwdg.de

The Journal of Infection
|December 18, 2004
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Few Campylobacter jejuni strains carry the pVir virulence plasmid. Other distinct plasmids exist but do not appear to increase bacterial invasiveness in patients with diarrhea.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Bacterial Pathogenesis
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Campylobacter jejuni is a leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis.
  • The virulence plasmid pVir is reportedly crucial for C. jejuni enterocyte invasion.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Determine the prevalence of the pVir plasmid in clinical C. jejuni isolates.
  • Investigate DNA homologies among C. jejuni plasmids.
  • Assess the role of plasmids in C. jejuni invasiveness.

Main Methods:

  • Southern blot hybridization to study plasmid DNA homologies.
  • Gentamicin exclusion assay to measure C. jejuni invasion into Caco-2 cells.

Main Results:

  • Twenty-nine percent of clinical C. jejuni isolates harbored plasmids.
  • Only 7% of isolates contained a pVir homologue; 53% had distinct plasmids with homology to invasion genes.
  • Transfer of these distinct plasmids did not enhance invasiveness in plasmidless strains.

Conclusions:

  • A small fraction of C. jejuni strains possess the pVir virulence factor.
  • A distinct group of C. jejuni plasmids exists, unrelated to invasiveness.

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