Open AccessIsolation of a gene that is involved in Campylobacter jejuni 81116 cytotoxin activation
Author(s) -
Liu Kaiyan,
Fry Benjamin N.,
Coloe Peter J.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2006.00183.x
Subject(s) - campylobacter jejuni , cosmid , biology , antiserum , microbiology and biotechnology , periplasmic space , toxin , mutant , structural gene , gene , campylobacter fetus , campylobacter , escherichia coli , biochemistry , bacteria , genetics , antigen
Cytotoxin fractions were isolated from Campylobacter jejuni 81116 and semi‐purified by size‐exclusion liquid chromatography. The fraction showing the strongest toxicity was injected into mice to produce antiserum. The antiserum was used to screen a C. jejuni 81116 cosmid library. Nine genes were identified in overlapping cosmid inserts that induced reactivity with the antiserum. One of these genes showed high similarity to a periplasmic protein of unknown function and its isogenic mutant showed decreased toxicity compared to the C. jejuni 81116 wild type. This gene contains a Gram‐negative bacterial RTX toxin‐activating protein C signature, which suggests it may play a role in C. jejuni 81116 cytotoxin activation.