Characterisation of Host-Bacterial Interaction in the Invasion Process of C. jejuni
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Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Korolik, Victoria
Other Supervisors
Beacham, Ifor
McGuckin, Michael
Year published
2011
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Campylobacter jejuni is a major cause of human bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide, however despite its importance, relatively little is known about its mechanisms of pathogenesis or interaction with the host. Previous studies have identified flagella, motility, and other surface structures as essential requirements for C. jejuni pathogenesis, with exact interactions still to be elucidated. It has been hypothesised that C. jejuni interacts with cell surface glycoproteins known as mucins; these structures have previously been identified as chemoattractants for C. jejuni. Specifically, MUC1 is a membrane bound mucin expressed ...
View more >Campylobacter jejuni is a major cause of human bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide, however despite its importance, relatively little is known about its mechanisms of pathogenesis or interaction with the host. Previous studies have identified flagella, motility, and other surface structures as essential requirements for C. jejuni pathogenesis, with exact interactions still to be elucidated. It has been hypothesised that C. jejuni interacts with cell surface glycoproteins known as mucins; these structures have previously been identified as chemoattractants for C. jejuni. Specifically, MUC1 is a membrane bound mucin expressed on the cell surface of the epithelium lining the gastric mucosa. This study proposed that C. jejuni interacts with MUC1 to facilitate attachment and penetration into host mucosal cells. To investigate this hypothesis, in vitro co-cultures using an intestinal cell line expressing MUC1 were employed. Co-culture assays showed correlation with previous observations that MUC1 promotes more rapid adherence to the cell surface, and further demonstrated adherence and invasion of C. jejuni 81116 was significantly increased in the presence of MUC1. Additionally, an alternative co-culture assay that uses incubating conditions that resemble the gastrointestinal mucosa more closely was established. These assay conditions produced more reliable and consistent assay data for a microaerophilic organism.
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View more >Campylobacter jejuni is a major cause of human bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide, however despite its importance, relatively little is known about its mechanisms of pathogenesis or interaction with the host. Previous studies have identified flagella, motility, and other surface structures as essential requirements for C. jejuni pathogenesis, with exact interactions still to be elucidated. It has been hypothesised that C. jejuni interacts with cell surface glycoproteins known as mucins; these structures have previously been identified as chemoattractants for C. jejuni. Specifically, MUC1 is a membrane bound mucin expressed on the cell surface of the epithelium lining the gastric mucosa. This study proposed that C. jejuni interacts with MUC1 to facilitate attachment and penetration into host mucosal cells. To investigate this hypothesis, in vitro co-cultures using an intestinal cell line expressing MUC1 were employed. Co-culture assays showed correlation with previous observations that MUC1 promotes more rapid adherence to the cell surface, and further demonstrated adherence and invasion of C. jejuni 81116 was significantly increased in the presence of MUC1. Additionally, an alternative co-culture assay that uses incubating conditions that resemble the gastrointestinal mucosa more closely was established. These assay conditions produced more reliable and consistent assay data for a microaerophilic organism.
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Thesis Type
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Degree Program
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School
School of Medical Science
Copyright Statement
The author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise.
Item Access Status
Public
Note
The Appendices have not been published here for copyright reasons.
Subject
Campylobacter jejuni
Human bacterial gastroenteritis
Microaerophilic organism