Open AccessDNA Rearrangements in the Flagellin Locus of an flaA Mutant of Campylobacter jejuni during Colonization of Chicken Ceca
Author(s) -
Piet J. M. Nuijten,
Anton J. G. van den Berg,
Ivan Formentini,
Bernard A.M. van der Zeijst,
A. A. C. Jacobs
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
infection and immunity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.508
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1070-6313
pISSN - 0019-9567
DOI - 10.1128/iai.68.12.7137-7140.2000
Subject(s) - flagellin , biology , campylobacter jejuni , flagellum , microbiology and biotechnology , mutant , colonization , gene , locus (genetics) , motility , campylobacter , reversion , genetics , bacteria , phenotype
Campylobacter jejuni is an enteropathogen for humans but commensal for chickens. In both hosts, the flagella and motility are important colonization factors. The flagellin gene is duplicated inCampylobacter , but only one flagellin gene,flaA , is sufficient for motility. We found that, during colonization of the chicken intestine, a nonmotileflaA mutant ofC. jejuni underwent rearrangements within its flagellin locus, thereby regaining its motility and colonization capacity. In contrast, in vitro motile revertants isolated from liquid culture showed different flagellin DNA rearrangements than after reversion in the chicken.