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Title: Eukaryotic Cell Invasion does not correlate to flaA SVR Sequence Type based on a Library of Genetically Diverse Campylobacter jejuni Isolates Originally Recovered from A Variety of Sources in Iceland

Author
item Akins, Edith
item Hiett, Kelli
item SELLERS, HOLLY - University Of Georgia
item Simmons, Ibn Abdul
item STINTZI, ALAIN - University Of Ottawa
item LOWMAN, RUFF - Canadian Food Inspection Agency
item Seal, Bruce

Submitted to: Campylobacter Helicobacter and Related Organisms International Workshop
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/20/2009
Publication Date: 9/1/2009
Citation: Akins, E.D., Hiett, K.L., Sellers, H.S., Simmons, I.M., Stintzi, A., Lowman, R., Seal, B.S. 2009. Eukaryotic Cell Invasion does not correlate to flaA SVR Sequence Type based on a Library of Genetically Diverse Campylobacter jejuni Isolates Originally Recovered from A Variety of Sources in Iceland. Campylobacter Helicobacter and Related Organisms International Workshop. Sept. 1-5,2009. Niigata, Japan.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Introduction: Campylobacter spp. are considered to be a leading bacterial etiologic agent of acute food-borne gastroenteritis among human populations. Epithelial cell invasion is hypothesized to be necessary for human infection and cell invasion assays have been utilized to demonstrate that distinct C. jejuni isolates may differ in their ability to invade human cells. Methods: In an effort to better understand the transmission of C. jejuni to humans, isolates obtained from sampling performed in Iceland (March 2001-March 2004) were used to compare flaA short variable region (SVR) gene sequences to adherence and invasion potentials in eukaryotic cell lines (Caco-2 and HD11 cells). For this investigation, we chose fifty-two C. jejuni isolates that upon flaA SVR subtype analyses segregated into one of four distinct flaA genotypes denoted Icelandic Allelle Type (IAT) A through D. Additionally, the fifty-two C. jejuni isolates were recovered from a variety of hosts including poultry, sheep, free-ranging birds, and human clinical isolates. Results: Adhesion of C. jejuni isolates to Caco-2 cells ranged from 0.00008% to 3.4% while the percent invasion ranged from 0.000003% to 1.2%. No correlative relationship was observed based on flaA SVR DNA sequence and Caco-2 cell adherence or invasion. These results suggests that although the flaA SVR subtype method may be utilized as a valuable molecular epidemiologic tool, eukaryotic cell adherence or invasiveness cannot be predicted based upon flaA SVR DNA sequence. Conclusions: flaA SVR DNA sequence analysis was determined to be a poor predictor of the adhesion and invasive properties among C. jejuni.