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Advances in Campylobacter: Molecular Epidemiology, Virulence Factors, Immune Response and...
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Advances in Campylobacter: Molecular Epidemiology, Virulence Factors, Immune Response and Drug Resistance

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 March 2024) | Viewed by 12354

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Stella I. Smith

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Department, Yaba, Nigeria
Interests: Campylobacter; Helicobacter; Arcobacter; Salmonella; Vibrio cholerae—epidemiology, antimicrobial susceptibility, and virulence
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Andreas E. Zautner

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
Interests: Campylobacter; proteotyping; virulence factors; antimicrobial resistance; epidemiology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Worldwide, Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are considered the most common causative agents of bacterial enteritis. Furthermore, there are also many Campylobacter-related organisms (e.g., Arcobacter species or facultative anaerobic Campylobacter species such as Campylobacter showae or Campylobacter rectus) for which there are only a few studies dealing with their clinical relevance, virulence, pathogenesis, and antimicrobial resistance. Campylobacter infections also trigger a number of post-infectious sequelae that are causally linked to the complexity of the initial antibacterial immune response.

The scope of this Special Issue includes all papers dealing with the epidemiology, antibiotic susceptibility, proteomics, genomics, and virulence of Campylobacter and closely related microbial species.

The aspects of virulence and pathogenesis should also be expressly extended here to include the immunopathogenesis of post-infectious sequelae. In addition to original research, review articles and case reports—in particular those dealing with rare Campylobacter species, preferably in combination with genome data—are also within the scope of the Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Stella Smith
Prof. Dr. Andreas E. Zautner
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Campylobacter jejuni
  • Campylobacter coli
  • Arcobacter species
  • anaerobic Campylobacter species
  • epidemiology
  • proteomics
  • genomics
  • rare Campylobacter species
  • immunopathogenesis
  • post-infectious sequelae
  • knock-out mutants

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

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2 pages, 165 KiB  
Editorial
Advances in Campylobacter: Molecular Epidemiology, Virulence Factors, Immune Responses and Drug Resistance
by Andreas E. Zautner
Microorganisms 2024, 12(1), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12010028 - 22 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1161
Abstract
Campylobacter infections, caused by Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli, are a major global concern, particularly as they are the leading cause of bacterial enteritis [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Campylobacter: Molecular Epidemiology, Virulence Factors, Immune Response and Drug Resistance)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

8 pages, 231 KiB  
Communication
Whole Genome Sequences, De Novo Assembly, and Annotation of Antibiotic Resistant Campylobacter jejuni Strains S27, S33, and S36 Newly Isolated from Chicken Meat
by Yiping He, Siddhartha Kanrar, Sue Reed, Joe Lee and Joseph Capobianco
Microorganisms 2024, 12(1), 159; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12010159 - 13 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1048
Abstract
Campylobacter is a leading bacterial cause of gastrointestinal infections in humans and has imposed substantial medical and public health burdens worldwide. Among a total of 39 species in the Campylobacter genus, C. jejuni is the most important species responsible for approx. 90% of [...] Read more.
Campylobacter is a leading bacterial cause of gastrointestinal infections in humans and has imposed substantial medical and public health burdens worldwide. Among a total of 39 species in the Campylobacter genus, C. jejuni is the most important species responsible for approx. 90% of human Campylobacter illness. Most cases of the infection were acquired by ingesting undercooked poultry meat due to the high prevalence of Campylobacter in the products. Here, we reported the dataset of raw sequences, de novo assembled and annotated genomes of C. jejuni strains S27, S33, and S36 recently isolated from retail chicken by using PacBio highly accurate long-read sequencing technology combined with bioinformatics tools. Our data revealed several virulence and antibiotic resistance genes in each of the chromosomes, a type IV secretion system in the plasmid (pCjS33) of C. jejuni S33, and a type VI secretion system and a phage in the plasmid (pCjS36) of C. jejuni S36. This study not only provides new sequence data but also extends the knowledge pertaining to the genomic and functional aspects of this important foodborne pathogen, including the genetic determinants of virulence and antibiotic resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Campylobacter: Molecular Epidemiology, Virulence Factors, Immune Response and Drug Resistance)
16 pages, 1992 KiB  
Article
Detection of Viable but Non-Culturable (VBNC)-Campylobacter in the Environment of Broiler Farms: Innovative Insights Delivered by Propidium Monoazide (PMA)-v-qPCR Analysis
by Benjamin Reichelt, Vanessa Szott, Kerstin Stingl, Uwe Roesler and Anika Friese
Microorganisms 2023, 11(10), 2492; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11102492 - 4 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1489
Abstract
Campylobacteriosis cases in humans are of global concern, with high prevalence rates in the poultry reservoir considered the most important source of infection. Research findings show Campylobacters’ ability to enter a viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state, remaining “viable” but unable to grow [...] Read more.
Campylobacteriosis cases in humans are of global concern, with high prevalence rates in the poultry reservoir considered the most important source of infection. Research findings show Campylobacters’ ability to enter a viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state, remaining “viable” but unable to grow on culture media. We explored the persistence of VBNC states in specific environments, particularly at broiler farms, as this state may lead to an underestimation of the present Campylobacter prevalence. For VBNC detection, a propidium monoazide PMA-dye viability qPCR (v-qPCR) was used in combination with cultivation methods. We examined samples collected from broiler farm barns and their surroundings, as well as chicken manure from experimental pens. In addition, the tenacity of culturable and VBNC-Campylobacter was studied in vitro in soil and water. In a total of three visits, Campylobacter was not detected either culturally or by v-qPCR (no Campylobacter DNA) in the environment of the broiler farms. In four visits, however, VBNC-Campylobacter were detected both inside and outside the barns. The overall prevalence in environmental samples was 15.9% for VBNC-Campylobacter, 62.2% for Campylobacter DNA, and 1.2% for culturable C. jejuni. In the experimental pens, no cultivable C. jejuni was detected in chicken manure after 24 h. Strikingly, “VBNC-Campylobacter” persisted even after 72 h. “VBNC-Campylobacter” were confirmed in barn surroundings and naturally contaminated chicken manure. Laboratory studies revealed that VBNC-Campylobacter can remain intact in soil for up to 28 days and in water for at least 63 days, depending on environmental conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Campylobacter: Molecular Epidemiology, Virulence Factors, Immune Response and Drug Resistance)
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13 pages, 317 KiB  
Article
Comparison of the Diagnostic Accuracy of Three Real-Time PCR Assays for the Detection of Arcobacter butzleri in Human Stool Samples Targeting Different Genes in a Test Comparison without a Reference Standard
by Ramona Binder, Andreas Hahn, Kirsten Alexandra Eberhardt, Ralf Matthias Hagen, Holger Rohde, Ulrike Loderstädt, Torsten Feldt, Fred Stephen Sarfo, Veronica Di Cristanziano, Sascha Kahlfuss, Hagen Frickmann and Andreas Erich Zautner
Microorganisms 2023, 11(5), 1313; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11051313 - 17 May 2023
Viewed by 1207
Abstract
Potential etiological relevance for gastroenteric disorders including diarrhea has been assigned to Arcobacter butzleri. However, standard routine diagnostic algorithms for stool samples of patients with diarrhea are rarely adapted to the detection of this pathogen and so, A. butzleri is likely to [...] Read more.
Potential etiological relevance for gastroenteric disorders including diarrhea has been assigned to Arcobacter butzleri. However, standard routine diagnostic algorithms for stool samples of patients with diarrhea are rarely adapted to the detection of this pathogen and so, A. butzleri is likely to go undetected unless it is specifically addressed, e.g., by applying pathogen-specific molecular diagnostic approaches. In the study presented here, we compared three real-time PCR assays targeting the genes hsp60, rpoB/C (both hybridization probe assays) and gyrA (fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay) of A. butzleri in a test comparison without a reference standard using a stool sample collection with a high pretest probability from the Ghanaian endemicity setting. Latent class analysis was applied with the PCR results obtained with a collection of 1495 stool samples showing no signs of PCR inhibition to assess the real-time PCR assays’ diagnostic accuracy. Calculated sensitivity and specificity were 93.0% and 96.9% for the hsp60-PCR, 100% and 98.2% for the rpoB/C-PCR, as well as 12.7% and 99.8% for the gyrA-PCR, respectively. The calculated A. butzleri prevalence within the assessed Ghanaian population was 14.7%. As indicated by test results obtained with high-titer spiked samples, cross-reactions of the hsp60-assay and rpoB/C-assay with phylogenetically related species such as A. cryaerophilus can occur but are less likely with phylogenetically more distant species like, e.g., A. lanthieri. In conclusion, the rpoB/C-assay showed the most promising performance characteristics as the only assay with sensitivity >95%, albeit associated with a broad 95%-confidence interval. In addition, this assay showed still-acceptable specificity of >98% in spite of the known cross-reactivity with phylogenetically closely related species such as A. cryaerophilus. If higher certainty is desired, the gyrA-assay with specificity close to 100% can be applied for confirmation testing with samples showing positive rpoB/C-PCR results. However, in case of a negative result in the gyrA-assay, this cannot reliably exclude the detection of A. butzleri in the rpoB/C-assay due to the gyrA-assay’s very low sensitivity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Campylobacter: Molecular Epidemiology, Virulence Factors, Immune Response and Drug Resistance)
15 pages, 2397 KiB  
Article
Campylobacter Colonization and Diversity in Young Turkeys in the Context of Gastrointestinal Distress and Antimicrobial Treatment
by Margaret Kirchner, William G. Miller, Jason A. Osborne, Brian Badgley, Jeffrey Neidermeyer and Sophia Kathariou
Microorganisms 2023, 11(2), 252; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11020252 - 19 Jan 2023
Viewed by 1547
Abstract
Young turkeys are vulnerable to undifferentiated gastrointestinal distress, including “irritable and crabby syndrome” (ICS), which compromises flock performance and is typically treated with a combination of penicillin and gentamicin (P/G). However, the effects of ICS and P/G treatment on Campylobacter remain poorly understood. [...] Read more.
Young turkeys are vulnerable to undifferentiated gastrointestinal distress, including “irritable and crabby syndrome” (ICS), which compromises flock performance and is typically treated with a combination of penicillin and gentamicin (P/G). However, the effects of ICS and P/G treatment on Campylobacter remain poorly understood. We investigated the impact of ICS and P/G treatment on Campylobacter levels and diversity in four flocks from three turkey farms. Cecum and jejunum samples were analyzed weekly from day of hatch to week 4–5. All four flocks became colonized with multidrug resistant (MDR) Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli by week 2–3, and two developed ICS. ICS and P/G treatment did not significantly impact total Campylobacter levels or strain genotypes but impacted species and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles. One flock was raised under antibiotic-free (ABF) conditions while another flock at the same farm was raised conventionally. The ABF flock did not develop ICS while its counterpart did. However, Campylobacter strains, AMR profiles and sequence types were generally shared between these two flocks. Our findings suggest that ICS and P/G treatment impacted Campylobacter population dynamics in commercial young turkey flocks, and that ABF flocks may become readily colonized by MDR strains from non-ABF flocks at the same farm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Campylobacter: Molecular Epidemiology, Virulence Factors, Immune Response and Drug Resistance)
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13 pages, 2313 KiB  
Article
Extracellular c-di-GMP Plays a Role in Biofilm Formation and Dispersion of Campylobacter jejuni
by Bassam A. Elgamoudi, Kirstie S. Starr and Victoria Korolik
Microorganisms 2022, 10(10), 2030; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10102030 - 14 Oct 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2402
Abstract
Cyclic diguanosine monophosphate (c-diGMP) is a ubiquitous second messenger involved in the regulation of many signalling systems in bacteria, including motility and biofilm formation. Recently, it has been reported that c-di-GMP was detected in C. jejuni DRH212; however, the presence and the [...] Read more.
Cyclic diguanosine monophosphate (c-diGMP) is a ubiquitous second messenger involved in the regulation of many signalling systems in bacteria, including motility and biofilm formation. Recently, it has been reported that c-di-GMP was detected in C. jejuni DRH212; however, the presence and the role of c-di-GMP in other C. jejuni strains are unknown. Here, we investigated extracellular c-di-GMP as an environmental signal that potentially triggers biofilm formation in C. jejuni NCTC 11168 using a crystal violet-based assay, motility-based plate assay, RT-PCR and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). We found that, in presence of extracellular c-di-GMP, the biofilm formation was significantly reduced (>50%) and biofilm dispersion enhanced (up to 60%) with no effect on growth. In addition, the presence of extracellular c-di-GMP promoted chemotactic motility, inhibited the adherence of C. jejuni NCTC 11168-O to Caco-2 cells and upregulated the expression of Cj1198 (luxS, encoding quarum sensing pathway component, autoinducer-2), as well as chemotaxis genes Cj0284c (cheA) and Cj0448c (tlp6). Unexpectedly, the expression of Cj0643 (cbrR), containing a GGDEF-like domain and recently identified as a potential diguanylate cyclase gene, required for the synthesis of c-di-GMP, was not affected. Our findings suggest that extracellular c-di-GMP could be involved in C. jejuni gene regulation, sensing and biofilm dispersion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Campylobacter: Molecular Epidemiology, Virulence Factors, Immune Response and Drug Resistance)
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23 pages, 1632 KiB  
Article
Substrate Utilisation and Energy Metabolism in Non-Growing Campylobacter jejuni M1cam
by Emily Stoakes, George M. Savva, Ruby Coates, Noemi Tejera, Mark G. Poolman, Andrew J. Grant, John Wain and Dipali Singh
Microorganisms 2022, 10(7), 1355; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10071355 - 5 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2366
Abstract
Campylobacter jejuni, the major cause of bacterial foodborne illness, is also a fastidious organism that requires strict growth requirements in the laboratory. Our aim was to study substrate utilisation and energy metabolism in non-growing C. jejuni to investigate the ability of these [...] Read more.
Campylobacter jejuni, the major cause of bacterial foodborne illness, is also a fastidious organism that requires strict growth requirements in the laboratory. Our aim was to study substrate utilisation and energy metabolism in non-growing C. jejuni to investigate the ability of these bacteria to survive so effectively in the food chain. We integrated phenotypic microarrays and genome-scale metabolic modelling (GSM) to investigate the survival of C. jejuni on 95 substrates. We further investigated the underlying metabolic re-adjustment associated with varying energy demands on each substrate. We identified amino acids, organic acids and H2, as single substrates supporting survival without growth. We identified several different mechanisms, which were used alone or in combination, for ATP production: substrate-level phosphorylation via acetate kinase, the TCA cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation via the electron transport chain that utilised alternative electron donors and acceptors. The benefit of ATP production through each of these mechanisms was associated with the cost of enzyme investment, nutrient availability and/or O2 utilisation. C. jejuni can utilise a wide range of substrates as energy sources, including organic acids commonly used for marination or preservation of ingredients, which might contribute to the success of their survival in changing environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Campylobacter: Molecular Epidemiology, Virulence Factors, Immune Response and Drug Resistance)
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