ARS | Publication request: 23S RRNA OPERON DIFFERENCES IN ISOLATES OF CAMPYLOBACTER SPP.

Submitted to: Campylobacter Helicobacter and Related Organisms International Workshop
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 18, 2005
Publication Date: September 6, 2005
Citation: Meinersmann, R.J., Phillips, R.W., Ladely, S.R. 2005. 23s rrna operon differences in isolates of campylobacter spp. Campylobacter Helicobacter and Related Organisms International Workshop. September 4-8, 2005. Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

Technical Abstract: Lateral transfer of genes appears to occur between Campylobacter species, but the extent of that transfer is not fully appreciated. The presence or absence of an intervening sequence (IVS) in the 23S rRNA has been noted in Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter jejuni. As part of a survey, we used PCR to detect the presence of the IVS in 43 isolates of C. coli and 82 isolates of C. jejuni. An IVS was present in 40 (93%) of the C. coli and only 34 (41%) of the C. jejuni. A remarkable observation was that 12 of the C. coli isolates and 7 of the C. jejuni isolates had two PCR products, indicating the presence of 23S rRNA operons both with and without the IVS. Fourteen of the isolates with two products were evaluated by PFGE; thirteen different patterns were observed and only in one case was the total band size substantially greater than the expected 1.7 Mb indicating possible mixed culture. Southern blot analyses are underway to evaluate operon copy number and facilitate cloning of the operons. The results may indicate horizontal transfer of 23S rRNA genes between C. coli and C. jejuni that confuses the species concept.