45Campylobacter jejuni causes acute gastroenteritis world-wide and is transmitted primarily 46 through poultry, in which it is often a commensal member of the intestinal microbiota. Previous 47RNASeq experiments showed that transcripts from an operon encoding a high affinity phosphate 48 transporter (PstSCAB) of C. jejuni were among the most abundant when grown in chickens. 49Elevated levels of the pstSCAB mRNA were also identified in an RNASeq experiment from 50 human infection studies. In this study, we explore the role of PstSCAB in the biology and 51 colonization potential of C. jejuni. Our experimental results demonstrate that cells lacking 52PstSCAB survive poorly in stationary phase, nutrient-limiting media, and under osmotic 53 conditions reflective of those in the chicken. Polyphosphate levels in the mutant cells were 54 elevated at stationary phase, consistent with alterations in expression of polyphosphate 55 metabolism genes. C. jejuni were highly attenuated in colonization of newly hatched chicks, 56 recovered at levels several orders of magnitude below wild type. Mutant and wild type grew 57 similarly in complex media but the pstSCAB mutant exhibited a significant growth defect in 58 minimal media supplemented with L-lactate, postulated as a carbon source in vivo. Poor growth 59 in lactate correlated with diminished expression of acetogenesis pathway genes previously 60 demonstrated as important for colonizing chickens. The phosphate transport system is thus 61 essential for diverse aspects of C. jejuni physiology and in vivo fitness and survival.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.