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05:34
Detection and Isolation of Campylobacter spp. from Raw Meat
Published on: February 23, 2024
Bacteriophage influence Campylobacter jejuni types populating broiler chickens
Andrew E Scott1, Andrew R Timms, Phillippa L Connerton
1Division of Food Sciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leics LE12 5RD, UK.
Environmental Microbiology
|August 10, 2007
Summary
Bacteriophage predation drives Campylobacter jejuni evolution. Horizontal gene transfer creates new strains, with bacteriophage presence determining competitive advantage in broiler chickens.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Poultry Science
Background:
- Campylobacter jejuni is a major cause of foodborne illness.
- Bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) can influence bacterial populations.
- Understanding bacterial adaptation to phage predation is crucial for food safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how bacteriophage predation shapes Campylobacter jejuni genotypes.
- To determine the genetic basis for competitive advantages in C. jejuni strains.
- To examine the role of horizontal gene transfer in bacterial adaptation.
Main Methods:
- Experimental infection of broiler chickens with different C. jejuni strains.
- Genomic analysis to identify DNA transfer between strains.
- Co-colonization experiments with and without bacteriophages.
Main Results:
- Horizontal DNA transfer (112 kb) created a new C. jejuni strain (F2E3) from sensitive (F2C10) and insensitive (F2E1) parent strains.
- The new strain F2E3 gained sensitivity to six lytic bacteriophages.
- In the absence of bacteriophages, sensitive strains had a competitive advantage; in their presence, the insensitive strain dominated.
Conclusions:
- Interstrain recombination in vivo generates C. jejuni genome diversity.
- Bacteriophage predation acts as a strong selective pressure.
- Fitness costs associated with bacteriophage insensitivity make strains competitive only under predation pressure.
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