Identification of Type VI secretion system (T6SS) in Spanish Campylobacter jejuni
Poster communication in 17th International Workshop on Campylobacter, Helicobacter and Related Organisms
September 15th, 2013
Ugarte-Ruiz M., Gundogdu O., Wassenaar T., Ancochea C., Porrero MC., Dorrell N., Wren B. and Dominguez L.
Campylobacteriosis is considered a public health concern in the European Union as the reported incidence continues to increase. Recently, a Type VI secretion system (T6SS) was identified in some C. jejuni strains that conferred enhanced virulence in cell-based assays and in mice. The gene hcp (hemolysin co-regulated protein) was identified as a conserved genetic marker to identify this T6SS. In parallel, C. jejuni possesses a variety of genes encoding important oxidative stress response proteins such as superoxide dismutase (SodB), catalase (KatA), or regulators like peroxide stress (PerR) and the newly identified Cj1556. These genes appear to play a role in C. jejuni persistence in the environment. In this study, strains from Spanish poultry at slaughterhouse (n=58) and water samples (urban effluent, n=4) were investigated. We performed PCR screening for presence of T6SS and notable genes involved in the production of proteins that play a role in oxidative stress. These, along with the oxidative stress assays, were assessed in order to characterize the C. jejuni collection. We found that the majority of strains (79%) possess the T6SS hcp gene and display a high level of resistance to oxidative stress irrespective of the isolates’ origin. The high incidence of T6SS may be significant C. jejuni -associated disease in the EU
 | Servicio de Zoonosis de Transmisión Alimentaria y Resistencia a Antimicrobianos (ZTA). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
| Departamento de Sanidad Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
| Molecular Microbiology and Genomics Consultants. | |
Link to 17th International Workshop on Campylobacter, Helicobacter and Related Organisms
