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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania » Eastern Regional Research Center » Characterization and Interventions for Foodborne Pathogens » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #320473
Title: Complete genome sequence of Campylobacter jejuni RM1285 a rod-shaped morphological variant

Author
item Gunther, Nereus - Jack
item Bono, James - Jim
item Needleman, David

Submitted to: Genome Announcements
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/16/2015
Publication Date: 11/25/2015
Citation: Gunther, N.W., Bono, J.L., Needleman, D.S. 2015. Complete genome sequence of Campylobacter jejuni RM1285 a rod-shaped morphological variant. Genome Announcements. doi: 10.1128/genomeA.01361-15.

Interpretive Summary: Campylobacter is a bacterium that causes a high number of cases of food-borne illness worldwide, and the primary route for the introduction of Campylobacter jejuni into the food system is through contamination of poultry products. A strain of Campylobacter jejuni, RM1285, was isolated from chicken intended for human consumption. RM1285 was observed microscopically to be shaped like a small rod. This is significant because most Campylobacter jejuni, the type of bacteria to which RM1285 belongs, are spiral shaped. Additionally, the strain RM1285 was observed to survive elevated pressure better compared to other Campylobacter jejuni strains. All of the genes that make up RM1285 were sequenced and matched to known Campylobacter jejuni genes. From this information a gene was identified in RM1285 that was defective and was a gene previously implicated in playing a role in the shape of Campylobacter jejuni. This work will allow us to determine if this gene also plays a role in the resistance of Campylobacter to high pressure, which is important in understanding how Campylobacter jejuni can survive and be associated with a high incidence of human disease. Additionally, this is the first time that all of the genes that comprise a rod shaped variant of Campylobacter jejuni have been sequenced.

Technical Abstract: Campylobacter jejuni is a spiral-shaped Gram-negative food-borne human pathogen found on poultry products. Strain RM1285 is a rod-shaped variant of this species. The genome of RM1285 was determined to be 1,635,803 bp with a G+C content of 30.5%.