Gene expression profile of Campylobacter jejuni in response to macrolide antibiotics

Campylobacter jejuni is a foodborne pathogen that causes gastroenteritis in humans and has developed resistance to various antibiotics. The primary objective of this research was to examine the network of antibiotic resistance in C. jejuni. The study involved the wild and antibiotic-resistant strains placed in the presence and absence of antibiotics to review their gene expression profiles in response to ciprofloxacin via microarray. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analysis and Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) Network studies were performed for these genes. The results showed that the resistance network of C. jejuni is modular, with different genes involved in bacterial motility, capsule synthesis, efflux, and amino acid and sugar synthesis. Antibiotic treatment resulted in the down-regulation of cluster genes related to translation, flagellum formation, and chemotaxis. In contrast, cluster genes involved in homeostasis, capsule formation, and cation efflux were up-regulated. The study also found that macrolide antibiotics inhibit the progression of C. jejuni infection by inactivating topoisomerase enzymes and increasing the activity of epimerase enzymes, trying to compensate for the effect of DNA twisting. Then, the bacterium limits the movement to conserve energy. Identifying the antibiotic resistance network in C. jejuni can aid in developing drugs to combat these bacteria. Genes involved in cell division, capsule formation, and substance transport may be potential targets for inhibitory drugs. Future research must be directed toward comprehending the underlying mechanisms contributing to the modularity of antibiotic resistance and developing strategies to disrupt and mitigate the growing threat of antibiotic resistance effectively.