Temperature affects sole carbon utilization patterns of Campylobacter coli 49941

Authors: Line, John; Hiett, Kelli; Guard, Jean; Seal, Bruce

Submitted to: Current Microbiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/27/2010
Publication Date: 10/28/2010
Citation: Line, J.E., Hiett, K.L., Guard, J.Y., Seal, B.S. 2010. Temperature affects sole carbon utilization patterns of Campylobacter coli 49941. Current Microbiology. 62:821-825.

Interpretive Summary: Campylobacter spp. have unique nutritional and environmental requirements. Campylobacter spp. exist as commensal organisms in some animal species, yet are estimated to be the most common cause of foodborne illness in humans. C. jejuni is most often associated with poultry, while C. coli are more frequently associated with swine. Temperature has been suggested to trigger potential colonization or virulence factors in C. jejuni and recent studies have demonstrated temperature-dependent genes are important to colonization. It is possible that temperature-dependent colonization factors are in part responsible for the species specific colonization characteristics of C. coli also. We determined utilization of 190 different sole carbon substrates by C. coli ATCC 49941 at 37oC and 42oC using phenotype microarray (PM) technology. Temperature did affect amino acid utilization. L-asparagine and L-serine allowed significantly (p=0.05) more respiration by C. coli ATCC 49941 at the lower temperature of 37oC as compared to 42oC. Conversely, L-glutamine was utilized to a significantly greater extent (p=0.015) at the higher temperature of 42oC. Other organic substrates exhibited temperature dependent utilization including succinate, D,L-malate and propionate which all supported active respiration by C. coli to a significantly greater extent at 42oC. Further investigation is needed to determine the basis for the temperature-dependent utilization of substrates by Campylobacter spp. and their possible role in species specific colonization. Researchers in government, academia and industry will find these results useful as a better understanding of the metabolic pathways and nutritional requirements of campylobacter bacteria could lead to improvements in culture media for detection and isolation of the pathogen along with future intervention methods to reduce human exposure.

Technical Abstract: Campylobacter spp. are small, asaccharolytic bacteria exhibiting unique nutritional and environmental requirements. Campylobacter spp. exist as commensal organisms in some animal species, yet are estimated to be the most common causative agents of foodborne illness in humans. C. jejuni is most often associated with poultry, while C. coli are more frequently associated with swine. Temperature has been suggested to trigger potential colonization or virulence factors in C. jejuni and recent studies have demonstrated temperature-dependent genes are important to colonization. It is possible that temperature-dependent colonization factors are in part responsible for the species specific colonization characteristics of C. coli also. We determined utilization of 190 different sole carbon substrates by C. coli ATCC 49941 at 37oC and 42oC using phenotype microarray (PM) technology. Temperature did affect amino acid utilization. L-asparagine and L-serine allowed significantly (p=0.05) more respiration by C. coli ATCC 49941 at the lower temperature of 37oC as compared to 42oC. Conversely, L-glutamine was utilized to a significantly greater extent (p=0.015) at the higher temperature of 42oC. Other organic substrates exhibited temperature dependent utilization including succinate, D,L-malate and propionate which all supported active respiration by C. coli to a significantly greater extent at 42oC. Further investigation is needed to determine the basis for the temperature-dependent utilization of substrates by Campylobacter spp. and their possible role in species specific colonization.