Metal exporters as Campylobacter jejuni virulence factors

Abstract P7

Presenter: Dennis Linton (University of Manchester)

Campylobacter jejuni is the leading bacterial cause of human gastroenteritis worldwide yet relatively little is known regarding its virulence factors and their regulation. Overcoming metal toxicity is emerging as a virulence mechanism of diverse bacterial pathogens. We have identified and characterised two members of the Cation Diffusion Facilitator (CDF) family in C. jejuni and demonstrated that these inner membrane-located transporters export metals from the cell cytoplasm to maintain intracellular metal homeostasis. Through mutational analysis we have demonstrated the respective roles of each transporter in zinc and iron export and further established a link between C. jejuni metal homeostasis and sensitivity to reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. To directly investigate the roles of these metal exporters in virulence we have used macrophage survival assays and the Galleria mellonella larval infection model. Combined our data demonstrate the importance of both C. jejuni CDF family members in virulence and establish a new focus for investigating how C. jejuni interacts with hosts and overcomes innate immune responses to establish infection and longer-term colonisation in a host-dependent manner.

About the presenter

https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/james.d.linton.html

Presenting in Speaking session 2 - Pathogenesis