Open AccessO‐antigen repeat number in S almonella enterica serovar E nteritidis is important for egg contamination, colonisation of the chicken reproductive tract and survival in egg albumen
Author(s) -
Coward Chris,
Sait Leanne,
Cogan Tristan,
Humphrey Tom J.,
Maskell Duncan J.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/1574-6968.12143
Subject(s) - colonisation , biology , salmonella enteritidis , salmonella enterica , serotype , microbiology and biotechnology , salmonella , antigen , gastrointestinal tract , reproductive tract , contamination , colonization , bacteria , immunology , ecology , biochemistry , genetics , endocrinology
S almonella enterica serovar E nteritidis is a major cause of human gastrointestinal disease, infection being due in large part to consumption of contaminated eggs. The lipopolysaccharide ( LPS ) of S almonella is known to play a role in colonisation of the host and survival in hostile conditions including egg albumen. We investigated the contribution of LPS O‐antigen length to colonisation of the reproductive tract of laying hens, contamination of eggs and survival in albumen. We show that expression of very‐long O‐antigen is essential for contamination of eggs, probably as a consequence of enhanced reproductive tract colonisation and survival in the forming egg.