Campylobacter jejuni

A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Campylobacter jejuni

Classification

Higher order taxa

Kingdom: Bacteria, Phylum: Proteobacteria, Class: Epsilon Proteobacteria, Order: Campylobacterales, Family: Campylobacteraceae.

Species

NCBI: Taxonomy

Genus: Campylobacter, Species: C. jejuni.

Description and significance

Campylobacter jejuni is a gram negative bacteria that is curved and rod-shaped. It is most commonly found in animal feces, especially in wombad, kangaroo and bird feces. Campylobacter jejuni is a microaerophilic organism, this means that it requires an environment that contains reduced concentration of oxygen (~3-5% of oxygen and ~2-10% of carbon dioxide). Because of this requirement, it is very sensitive to stress in the environment. For example, too much oxygen, acidic condition, heating, and drying. Campylobacter jejuni is the number one cause of foodborn illness in the United States. Therefore, it is very important to sequence its genom to determine its role in these foodborn illnesses and effective treatments can be developed. Campylobacter jejuni is present in high levels in diarrheal stools of an infected individual as well as animal feces. This bacteria can be isolated from humans and animals. Isolation requires and special antibiotic-containing media and an environment that contains optimal level of oxygen for microaerophilic organims.

Genome structure

Describe the size and content of the genome.

How many chromosomes?

Circular or linear?

Other interesting features?

What is known about its sequence?

Does it have any plasmids?

Are they important to the organism's lifestyle?

Cell structure and metabolism

Describe any interesting features and/or cell structures; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.

Ecology

Describe any interactions with other organisms (included eukaryotes), contributions to the environment, effect on environment, etc.

Pathology

How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

Application to Biotechnology

Does this organism produce any useful compounds or enzymes? What are they and how are they used?

Current Research

Enter summaries of the most recent research here--at least three required

References

[Sample reference] Takai, K., Sugai, A., Itoh, T., and Horikoshi, K. "Palaeococcus ferrophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a barophilic, hyperthermophilic archaeon from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 2000. Volume 50. p. 489-500.

Edited by student of [lshi@ucsd.edu LiJie Shi]