Molecular mechanisms of Campylobacter infection

J.P.M. van Putten, L. van Alphen, M.M.S.M. Wosten, M.R. de Zoete

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademicpeer-review

    Abstract

    Campylobacter jejuni is the principal bacterial foodborne pathogen. A major challenge still is to identify the virulence strategies exploited by C. jejuni. Recent genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics approaches indicate that C. jejuni displays extensive inter- and intrastrain variation. The diverse behavior enables bacterial adaptation to different environmental conditions and directs interactions with the gut mucosa. Here, we report recent progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms and functional consequences of the phenotype diversity. The results suggest that C. jejuni actively penetrates the intestinal mucus layer, secretes proteins mainly via its flagellar apparatus, is engulfed by intestinal cells, and can disrupt the integrity of the epithelial lining. C. jejuni stimulates the proinflammatory pathway and the production of a large repertoire of cytokines, chemokines, and innate effector molecules. Novel experimental infection models suggest that the activation of the innate immune response is important for the development of intestinal pathology.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationMolecular Mechanisms of Bacterial Infection via the Gut
    PublisherSpringer
    Pages197-229
    Number of pages33
    ISBN (Electronic)978-3-642-01846-6
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2009

    Publication series

    NameCurrent Topics in Microbiology and Immunology
    PublisherSpringer Verlag
    Volume337
    ISSN (Print)0070-217X

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