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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #174155
Title: SUBACTIVE HYBRIDIZATION IDENTIFIES GENOMIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CAMPYLOBACTER JEJUNI ISOLATES DEMONSTRATED TO DIFFERENTIALLY COLONIZE CHICKENS

Author
item Hiett, Kelli
item Kuntz, Robin
item Seal, Bruce

Submitted to: American Society for Microbiology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/2/2005
Publication Date: 6/15/2005
Citation: Hiett, K.L., Kuntz, R.L., Seal, B.S. 2005. Subactive hybridization identifies genomic differences between campylobacter jejuni isolates demonstrated to differentially colonize chickens. American Society for Microbiology Annual Meeting. P-281, P-321.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Background: Campylobacter spp. is considered the leading bacterial etiology of acute gastroenteritis in humans. Evidence implicates poultry as a major source of the organism for human illness; however, the factors involved in colonization of poultry with Campylobacter spp. remain unclear. Determining colonization ' associated factors at the genome level should facilitate our understanding of Campylobacter spp. contamination of poultry so that targeted intervention strategies can be developed. Methods: Suppressive subtractive hybridization was used to identify genomic differences between two Campylobacter jejuni isolates, 1168 and A74/C that exhibit different colonization potentials in poultry. Southern blot and Northern blot hybridization analyses of a panel of diverse Campylobacter jejuni strains were performed to determine the distribution and expression of differentially identified gene sequences. Results: A total of three hundred and twenty-four clones resulting from the subtractions were analyzed. Two hundred and forty-eight (76.5%) of the clones were determined to contain inserts of approximately 300 to 600 base pairs in size. Preliminary DNA sequence analyses of clones inserts revealed similarities to waaC (heptosyltransferase) from C. jejuni 0:36, neuA (CMP-Neu Nac sythetase) from C. jejuni 0:23, and a CA repeat region from Homo sapiens. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that subtractive hybridization is a useful tool for the identification of genetic variation between Campylobacter spp. isolates. Identification of different genes potentially involved in colonization of Campylobacter sp. In poultry will facilitate the development of targeted intervention strategies, thereby allowing the delivery of a safer product to consumers.