Foodborne Bacterial Pathogens: molecular mechanisms underlying transmission and virulence of Campylobacter
Lead Research Organisation:
QUADRAM INSTITUTE BIOSCIENCE
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
The goals of this project are to define the molecular basis of food chain transmission and virulence of the foodborne bacterial pathogen Campylobacter. The uniqueness of Campylobacter as foodborne pathogen requires the development and application of new scientific approaches to increase our understanding of this organism, as current (often E. coli/Salmonella-based) paradigms cannot explain its success as foodborne pathogen. The Campylobacter research at IFR combines the use of state-of-the-art high throughput technologies and a host of organism-specific molecular microbiology tools, for strategic genomic and postgenomic research into Campylobacter physiology, metabolism, transmission and virulence. These studies will be incorporated into systems level approaches and network science analyses for Campylobacter. An improved understanding of Campylobacter biology will both inform regulators and scientists on the effect of efforts for improving food safety and public health, may help industry in devising improved packaging and storage conditions, as well as impact on science and knowledge on bacterial pathogens.
Planned Impact
unavailable
People |
ORCID iD |
| Arnoud Van Vliet (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Belzer C
(2011)
PerR controls peroxide- and iron-responsive expression of oxidative stress defense genes in Helicobacter hepaticus.
in European journal of microbiology & immunology
Bereswill S.
(2011)
Role of putative RNA-binding proteins in Campylobacter jejuni gene expression and virulence
in International Journal of Medical Microbiology
Brown H
(2013)
Tetrazolium reduction allows assessment of biofilm formation by Campylobacter jejuni in a food matrix model
in Journal of Applied Microbiology
Brown HL
(2014)
Chicken juice enhances surface attachment and biofilm formation of Campylobacter jejuni.
in Applied and environmental microbiology
Brown HL
(2015)
Campylobacter jejuni biofilms contain extracellular DNA and are sensitive to DNase I treatment.
in Frontiers in microbiology
Brunt J
(2016)
Diversity of the Germination Apparatus in Clostridium botulinum Groups I, II, III, and IV
in Frontiers in Microbiology
Butcher J
(2015)
Refined analysis of the Campylobacter jejuni iron-dependent/independent Fur- and PerR-transcriptomes.
in BMC genomics
Dwivedi R
(2016)
L-fucose influences chemotaxis and biofilm formation in Campylobacter jejuni.
in Molecular microbiology
Gaskin DJ
(2010)
Random mutagenesis strategies for Campylobacter and Helicobacter species.
in Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)
| Description | Our work on genomics of Campylobacter has shown that there are clear differences between environmental isolates and agricultural isolates of Campylobacter, and this new knowledge on where different Campylobacters are found can influence government policy and industry approaches. Our work on evolution of Campylobacter shows that this organism is highly resilient and can make significant changes in its genetic potential, which needs to be taken into account in any work on antimicrobials. Our work on Campylobacter biofilms has resulted in significant attention from industry and press, as this is a vehicle by which Campylobacter can be transmitted through the food chain. This has resulted in consultancies with industry, in radio interviews and in participation in advice to government and funders. Finally, we have identified a bacterial "sat-nav"; which controls the direction of Campylobacter movement. This publication made the BBSRC News. |
| Exploitation Route | Our work can influence all those working on molecular tools for the epidemiology of bacterial pathogens, as we have developed new rapid analysis methods based on genome sequencing. Our work on selenium metabolism and directed movement can be used for chemically disrupting colonisation strategies of Campylobacter. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Education Healthcare Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | Our work on Campylobacter biofilms has resulted in significant attention from industry and press, as this is a vehicle by which Campylobacter can be transmitted through the food chain. This has resulted in consultancies with industry, in radio interviews and in participation in advice to government and funders. Together with TGAC, UEA and Canadian collaborators, we have developed new bioinformatic analysis methods for rapid, high-throughput phylogenomic analysis of genome sequences. With support from a multicentre (IFR, Public Health England, TGAC, UEA, Swansea, Liverpool) FSA Strategic Research Grant ("Generating tools for the molecular epidemiology of Campylobacter coli by next generation genome sequencing") these analysis methods will be applied to understanding food chain survival of Campylobacter as well as colonisation/virulence ability of Campylobacter. We have found that Campylobacter requires selenium for formate-based respiration, and have identified a new uptake system for bacteria. This is currently being investigated as a target for feed additives to combat Campylobacter colonisation of poultry. We have shown that biofilms are an important vehicle for Campylobacter survival in food-chain relevant conditions, and have won an iCASE studentship to further investigate this. This work has attracted interest from the poultry industry. Finally, we have identified a bacterial "sat-nav" which controls the direction of Campylobacter movement. This publication made the BBSRC News. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2013 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Impact Types | Economic Policy & public services |
| Description | FRIENZ |
| Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Government of New Zealand |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Start | 06/2014 |
| End | 06/2015 |
| Description | Innovate UK Biofilm grants |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2016 |
| End | 03/2017 |
| Description | Strategic Science |
| Amount | £140,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | FS101087 |
| Organisation | Food Standards Agency (FSA) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2013 |
| End | 02/2016 |
| Description | Campylobacter coli genomics consortium |
| Organisation | Earlham Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Consortium to sequence Campylobacter coli genomes to contribute to development of molecular epidemiology. Funded by FSA |
| Collaborator Contribution | Consortium to sequence Campylobacter coli genomes to contribute to development of molecular epidemiology. Funded by FSA |
| Impact | Genome sequences, analyses, report to funder |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | Campylobacter coli genomics consortium |
| Organisation | Public Health England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Consortium to sequence Campylobacter coli genomes to contribute to development of molecular epidemiology. Funded by FSA |
| Collaborator Contribution | Consortium to sequence Campylobacter coli genomes to contribute to development of molecular epidemiology. Funded by FSA |
| Impact | Genome sequences, analyses, report to funder |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | Campylobacter coli genomics consortium |
| Organisation | Swansea University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Consortium to sequence Campylobacter coli genomes to contribute to development of molecular epidemiology. Funded by FSA |
| Collaborator Contribution | Consortium to sequence Campylobacter coli genomes to contribute to development of molecular epidemiology. Funded by FSA |
| Impact | Genome sequences, analyses, report to funder |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | Campylobacter coli genomics consortium |
| Organisation | University of East Anglia |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Consortium to sequence Campylobacter coli genomes to contribute to development of molecular epidemiology. Funded by FSA |
| Collaborator Contribution | Consortium to sequence Campylobacter coli genomes to contribute to development of molecular epidemiology. Funded by FSA |
| Impact | Genome sequences, analyses, report to funder |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | Campylobacter coli genomics consortium |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Consortium to sequence Campylobacter coli genomes to contribute to development of molecular epidemiology. Funded by FSA |
| Collaborator Contribution | Consortium to sequence Campylobacter coli genomes to contribute to development of molecular epidemiology. Funded by FSA |
| Impact | Genome sequences, analyses, report to funder |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | BBC Watchdog Testhouse |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Contributed to BBCT Watchdog Testhouse, showing an experiment which demonstrated how people at home can protect themselves against Campylobacter by cooking their meat. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Contribution to BBC Countryfile (TV) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Contribution to Campylobacter documentary on BBC Countryfile, to discuss the scientific background of Campylobacter infection and information about the bacterium. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Public lecture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Public lecture on food safety |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.ifr.ac.uk/news/latest-news/2015/10/would-you-food-poisoning/ |