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Generation of Campylobacter jejuni genetic diversity in vivo
Author(s) -
Boer Paulo de,
Wagenaar Jaap A.,
Achterberg René P.,
Putten Jos P. M. van,
Schouls Leo M.,
Duim Birgitta
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2958.2002.02930.x
Subject(s) - biology , campylobacter jejuni , pulsed field gel electrophoresis , genetics , campylobacter , heterologous , amplified fragment length polymorphism , restriction fragment length polymorphism , polymerase chain reaction , microbiology and biotechnology , mobile genetic elements , genetic diversity , gene , southern blot , genome , bacteria , population , genotype , demography , sociology
Summary Molecular epidemiology studies suggest that horizontal genetic exchange is a major cause of pathogen biodiversity. We tested this concept for the bacterial enteropathogen Campylobacter jejuni by seeking direct in vivo evidence for the exchange of genetic material among Campylobacter strains. For this purpose, two antibiotic resistance markers were inserted into the hipO or htrA gene of genetically distinct and naturally transformable C. jejuni strains. Genetic exchange of the resistance markers was analysed after co‐cultivation of homologous and heterologous strains in vitro and in vivo during experimental infection of chickens. Double‐resistant recombinants were obtained both in vitro and from the chicken intestine for all combinations of strains tested. Bidirectional genetic exchange of DNA between homologous and heterologous strains was confirmed by Southern blotting in combination with flaA polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP), amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Extensive PFGE analyses of isolated recombinants indicated the frequent occurrence of genetic rearrangements during the experimental infection, in addition to the homologous recombination of the antibiotic resistance genes. Together, the data indicate unequivocally that interstrain genetic exchange as well as intragenomic alterations do occur in vivo during C. jejuni infection. These events probably explain the genome plasticity observed for this pathogen.