Genetics behind the Biosynthesis of Nonulosonic Acid-Containing Lipooligosaccharides in Campylobacter coli

Despite the fact thatCampylobacter coli a major foodborne pathogen, its glycobiology has been largely neglected. The genetic makeup of theC. coli lipooligosaccharide biosynthesis locus was largely unknown until recently.C. coli harbors a large set of genes associated with lipooligosaccharide biosynthesis, including genes for several putative glycosyltransferases involved in the synthesis of sialylated lipooligosaccharide inCampylobacter jejuni . In the present study,C. coli was found to express lipooligosaccharide structures containing sialic acid and other nonulosonate acids. These findings have a strong impact on our understanding ofC. coli ecology, host-pathogen interaction, and pathogenesis.