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Campylobacter jejuni
I. Organism Information
A. Taxonomy Information
1. Species
a. Campylobacter jejuni
i. Taxonomy ID: 197
ii. Description:
Campylobacter jejuni is a member of the epsilon group of proteobacteria and is Gram-negative, microaerophilic and motile. C. jejuni is the leading cause of bacterial food-borne diarrheal disease throughout the world (1). Humans acquire the organisms by eating undercooked chicken or drinking contaminated milk and water. During the course of infection, hosts show symptoms of fever, cramps, and bloody diarrhea. Campylobacter is an invasive pathogen that penetrates the lining of the small intestine. Upon entry, it excretes toxins that destroy the gut mucosa.
Public health awareness of Campylobacter infections has evolved over more than a century. In 1886, Escherich observed organisms resembling campylobacters in stool samples of children with diarrhea. In 1913, McFaydean and Stockman identified campylobacters. In 1957, King described the isolation of related Vibrio from blood samples of children with diarrhea, and in 1972, clinical microbiologists in Belgium first isolated campylobacters from stool samples of patients with diarrhea. The development of selective growth media in the 1970s permitted more laboratories to test stool specimens for Campylobacter, which were soon recognized as common human pathogens (2).
iii. Variants
Campylobacter jejuni RM1221
Taxonomy ID: 195099
Parent: Campylobacter jejuni
Campylobacter jejuni subsp. doylei
Taxonomy ID: 32021
Parent: Campylobacter jejuni
Campylobacter jejuni subsp. jejuni NCTC 11168
Taxonomy ID: 192222
Parent: Campylobacter jejuni
B. Lifecycle and Morphology
1. One stage
a. Shape:
Vibriod, slender, 0.2-0.5 μm by 0.5-5 μm, may have more than one helical turn. They may also appear S-shaped or gull-wing-shaped when two cells form short chains. Cells in old cutures may form spherical forms (coccoid bodies) (3).
b. Picture:
SEM image of Campylobacter jejuni with size bar by Janice Carr, CDC
C. Genome Summary
1. Genome of Campylobacter jejuni
a. Chromosome of Campylobacter jejuni RM1221
i. Genbank Accession Number: NC_003912
ii. Size: 1,777,831 bp
b. Chromosome of Campylobacter jejuni subsp. jejuni NCTC 11168
i. Genbank Accession Number: NC_002163
ii. Size: 1,641,481 bp
c. Plasmid pCJ419
i. Genbank Accession Number: NC_004997
ii. Size: 4,013 bp
d. Plasmid pVir
i. Genbank Accession Number: NC_005012
ii. Size: 37,468 bp
iii. Description: This is a circular plasmid of Campylobacter jejuni strain 81-176 and has a GC content of 26%. A total of 83% of the plasmid represented coding information, and all but 2 of the 54 predicted open reading frames were encoded on the same DNA strand. Seven genes were found to be orthologs of type IV secretion proteins found in Helicobacter pylori. Seven other pVir-encoded proteins showed significant similarities to proteins encoded by the plasticity zones of either H. pylori J99 or 26695. Mutational analyses of 19 plasmid genes identified 5 additional genes that affect in vitro invasion of intestinal epithelial cells (4).
e. Plasmid pTet
i. Genbank Accession Number: NC_006135
ii. Size: 45,205 bp
II. References
1. Parkhill J, Wren BW, Mungall K, Ketley JM, Churcher C, Basham D, Chillingworth T, Davies RM, Feltwell T, Holroyd S, Jagels K, Karlyshev AV, Moule S, Pallen MJ, Penn CW, Quail MA, Rajandream MA, Rutherford KM, van Vliet AH, Whitehead S, Barrell BG. (2000) The genome sequence of the food-borne pathogen Campylobacter jejuni reveals hypervariable sequences. Nature 403(6770):665-668.
3. Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, 9th edition. John G. Holt, Noel R. Krieg, Peter H.A. Sneath, James T. Staley, and Stanley T. Williams, editors. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1994, p. 41
4. Bacon DJ, Alm RA, Hu L, Hickey TE, Ewing CP, Batchelor RA, Trust TJ, Guerry P. (2002) DNA sequence and mutational analyses of the pVir plasmid of Campylobacter jejuni 81-176. Infect Immun. 70(11): 6242-6250. Hide info
Campylobacter - Google News
©2012 GoogleRaw milk's popularity is in question with illness outbreak - Waynesboro Record Herald
 USA TODAY | Raw milk's popularity is in question with illness outbreak Waynesboro Record Herald An outbreak of campylobacter illness is a reminder of the potential hazards, however. Raw milk from The Family Cow dairy in Chambersburg is now linked to 38 cases in four states 31 in Pennsylvania, four in Maryland, two in West Virginia and one in ... Raw Milk Strikes 38 with Campylobacter in PA, MD, WV and NJ Officials say raw milk sickens dozens Latest illnesses point to raw milk's popularity |
Latest Illnesses Point to Raw Milk's Popularity - ABC News
 ABC News | Latest Illnesses Point to Raw Milk's Popularity ABC News An outbreak of campylobacter illness is a reminder of the potential hazards, however. Raw milk from a dairy in Pennsylvania is now linked to 38 cases in four states, and the farm has temporarily suspended sales. Campylobacter can cause diarrhea, ... Pennsylvania Department of Health expects to confirm if more sickened by raw ... State: Raw milk sickens 2 in Lancaster County Pennsylvania dairy linked to bacterial infections |
Despite opposition, NJ Assembly committee OKs DiMaio bill allowing sale of raw ... - Hunterdon County Democrat - NJ.com
 Hunterdon County Democrat - NJ.com | Despite opposition, NJ Assembly committee OKs DiMaio bill allowing sale of raw ... Hunterdon County Democrat - NJ.com So far, 38 eight confirmed cases of illness from a pathogen called campylobacter caused by a Pennsylvania dairy farm selling raw milk directly to the public were reported in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and New Jersey. |
6 Campylobacter Cases Linked to Raw Milk from Pennsylvania Dairy - Food Safety News
6 Campylobacter Cases Linked to Raw Milk from Pennsylvania Dairy Food Safety News by Mary Rothschild Jan 28, 2012 Six people have been infected with Campylobacter in an outbreak linked to raw milk from a farm in Pennsylvania, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said Friday. Three cases of campylobacteris have been ... Md. health officials issue warning on raw milk 6 sick with campylobacter linked to raw milk from Pa. dairy store Raw milk sold here infected, state warns |
AbCelex Technologies Announces Research Collaboration and Commercialization ... - MarketWatch (press release)
AbCelex Technologies Announces Research Collaboration and Commercialization ... MarketWatch (press release) According to the signed agreement terms, AbCelex and Carton will jointly research and develop products effective against Campylobacter jejuni. AbCelex's proprietary antibody-based platform technology can be a substantial solution worldwide to help ... |
A zap of cold plasma reduces harmful bacteria on raw chicken - PhysOrg.com
A zap of cold plasma reduces harmful bacteria on raw chicken PhysOrg.com The bacteria responsible for most foodborne illnesses, Campylobacter and Salmonella, are found on upwards of 70 percent of chicken meat tested. Treating raw meat products to remove pathogens before they reach a consumer's home can reduce the risk of ... |
Cool Plasma Torch Kills Germs on Raw Chicken - Popular Science
 Popular Science | Cool Plasma Torch Kills Germs on Raw Chicken Popular Science When raw chicken breasts had a normal amount of pathogens (Salmonella enterica and Campylobacter jejuni were the culprits that were tested), the plasma almost completely eliminated them. The technology is still too expensive to fit into the highly ... |
Scab Check for Poultry to Be Scrapped Under Food-Safety Rule - BusinessWeek
 Bloomberg | Scab Check for Poultry to Be Scrapped Under Food-Safety Rule BusinessWeek While the changes USDA proposes would save money, it is critically important that they reduce the unacceptably high levels of salmonella and campylobacter in chicken and turkey, Jacobson said. The pilot program with 25 poultry processors conducted ... USDA: Poultry inspection shift will boost safety, save money USDA proposes reducing government inspectors at poultry slaughter plants USDA to Revamp Poultry Inspection |
Dangerous E. coli infections up 19% in Scotland; declines in salmonella ... - barfblog (blog)
Dangerous E. coli infections up 19% in Scotland; declines in salmonella ... barfblog (blog) The report also noted decreases in salmonella and campylobacter. In 2011, HPS received reports of 736 cases of salmonella infection a decrease of almost 22% on the 941 reported in 2010. Cases of campylobacter were also down 3.6% to 6366 last year, ... |
Research and Markets: Campylobacter Control in Meat Patent and Technology ... - SunHerald.com
Research and Markets: Campylobacter Control in Meat Patent and Technology ... SunHerald.com Campylobacter bacteria are a major cause of food borne diarrheal illness -(Campylobacteriosis) - which in humans is the most common bacteria that cause gastroenteritis worldwide. Campylobacter infections are generally mild, but can be fatal among very ... |
