Open AccessMutation of PEB4 alters the outer membrane protein profile of Campylobacter jejuni
Author(s) -
Rathbun Kimberly M.,
Thompson Stuart A.
Publication year - 2009
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/j.1574-6968.2009.01795.x
Subject(s) - campylobacter jejuni , bacterial outer membrane , virulence , periplasmic space , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , mutant , biofilm , wild type , bacteria , mutation , membrane protein , campylobacter , gene , genetics , escherichia coli , membrane
Campylobacter jejuni is a significant cause of human gastroenteritis worldwide. In an attempt to further define bacterial factors that influence infectivity, Cj0596 was identified as playing a role in C. jejuni virulence. Cj0596 is a periplasmic chaperone that is similar to proteins involved in outer membrane protein (OMP) folding in other bacteria. Mutation of cj0596 caused an alteration in the levels of eight OMPs, compared with wild‐type bacteria. Replacement of the cj0596 mutation with the wild‐type cj0596 gene restored a wild‐type OMP profile. The altered OMP profile in the cj0596 mutant was accompanied by significant changes in several virulence properties, including an increase in the ability to autoagglutinate, increased susceptibility to several antimicrobial agents, and increased biofilm formation. In summary, mutation of cj0596 alters the C. jejuni OMP profile and leads to changes in OMP‐related phenotypes involved in C. jejuni pathogenesis.