A role for the tet(O) plasmid in maintaining Campylobacter plasticity.

Genomic sequencing projects are beginning to reveal regions of extensive DNA homology between bacterial genera. Public fears of the spread of genetically modified organisms into the food chain and the increasing prevalence of multi-drug resistant disease in humans highlight the implications of horizontal gene transfer. The striking DNA sequence similarity between the two uniquely identified tetracycline resistant (Tc(R)) Campylobacter plasmids, pCC31 and pTet, suggests their conserved acquisition and maintenance within Campylobacter [Batchelor, R.A., Pearson, B.M., Friis, L.M., Guerry, P., Wells, J.M. 2004. Nucleotide sequences and comparison of two large conjugative plasmids from different Campylobacter species. Microbiology 150, 3507-3517]. It is thus likely that these and other conjugative plasmids are highly prevalent and broadly distributed across several continents. Microarray technology is now enabling fast and extensive genomic comparisons to be made and allows us to investigate intra- and inter-genetic conservation and variability. This study details the development of a microarray specific for genes from Campylobacter plasmids pCC31, pTet and pVir and its application to the analysis of Campylobacter plasmid gene presence and preservation throughout environmental and clinical isolates. Application of the iterative algorithm GENCOM (freely available at ) is used as a rapid and effective way of comparing the content and conservation of plasmids in bacteria and provides details of the Campylobacter flexible gene pool and its contribution to genomic plasticity.

In vitro cell culture methods for investigating Campylobacter invasion mechanisms.

Studying the mechanisms of Campylobacter pathogenesis is complicated by the lack of simple animal models that mimic the disease seen in humans. In vitro cell culture methods provide a useful alternative to investigate the interactions between Campylobacter and the host epithelium that occur during infection. In the genomics era there is an increasing use of in vitro cell culture techniques to interrogate the potential role of different genes in pathogenesis. The aim of this review was to discuss the suitability and limitations of the various experimental approaches that might be adopted. We review current knowledge concerning the influence of cell-specific as well as bacterial factors required for Campylobacter invasion such as flagella and secreted proteins. The involvement and effects of phase variation on the results of invasion studies in cell culture emphasise the need to verify observed strain variations. We present the use of a mathematical Invasion Success Model to analyse Campylobacter invasion and show that it can be used to derive three strain dependent characteristics Imax, k, and I0. Even by combining data from independent experiments the Invasion Success Model can be used to statistically compare Campylobacter strains for their invasion of epithelial cells. Recommendations are given for the adoption of standard assay parameters and analytical methods such as the Invasion Success Model in order to facilitate comparison of data generated in different laboratories.

Clostridium botulinum neurotoxins act with a wide range of potencies on SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells.

We have described, in undifferentiated SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells, the relative potency of Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) serotypes A-F Sensitivity of stimulated [3H]-noradrenaline ([3H]-NA) release to the toxins had a rank order of potency of: C > D > A > B > F after 3 days exposure. The difference between the most potent (BoNT/C: IC50 0.54 nM) and the least (BoNT/F: IC50 > 300 nM) was approximately 1,000-fold. Though fluid phase endocytosis may have been the mechanism of entry for low potency toxins the far higher potency of BoNT/C would suggest receptor-driven entry. Potency was not a reflection of the dependence of the release mechanism on a particular SNARE since the substrate specificities were mixed throughout the potency order. This indicated that the toxins differed in their efficiency of binding/endocytosis or enzymatic activity inside the cell. The serotypes that cleaved vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP) isoforms (BoNT/B, D and F) did not fully inhibit [3H]-NA release. Cleavage of the appropriate substrate proteins was observed for all serotypes. SNAP-25 cleavage by BoNT/A was shown to be a dose-dependent and correlated closely with reduction of release, supporting proteolysis as the mechanism by which toxin inhibited secretion. Comparison of the SH-SY5Y cell line sensitivity to BoNT/A with glycine releasing rat primary spinal cord neuron cultures, revealed a massive difference in potency; the primary cultures being approximately 200,000-fold more sensitive. The demonstration, using BoNTs, of the crucial role of SNAP-25, VAMP and syntaxin in SH-SY5Y cells suggests the use of this neuroblastoma as a model in the study of these proteins in neurotransmitter release.

Inhibition of vesicular secretion in both neuronal and nonneuronal cells by a retargeted endopeptidase derivative of Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin type A.

Clostridial neurotoxins potently and specifically inhibit neurotransmitter release in defined cell types by a mechanism that involves cleavage of specific components of the vesicle docking/fusion complex, the SNARE complex. A derivative of the type A neurotoxin from Clostridium botulinum (termed LH(N)/A) that retains catalytic activity can be prepared by proteolysis. The LH(N)/A, however, lacks the putative native binding domain (H(C)) of the neurotoxin and is thus unable to bind to neurons and effect inhibition of neurotransmitter release. Here we report the chemical conjugation of LH(N)/A to an alternative cell-binding ligand, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). When applied to a variety of cell lines, including those that are ordinarily resistant to the effects of neurotoxin, WGA-LH(N)/A conjugate potently inhibits secretory responses in those cells. Inhibition of release is demonstrated to be ligand mediated and dose dependent and to occur via a mechanism involving endopeptidase-dependent cleavage of the natural botulinum neurotoxin type A substrate. These data confirm that the function of the H(C) domain of C. botulinum neurotoxin type A is limited to binding to cell surface moieties. The data also demonstrate that the endopeptidase and translocation functions of the neurotoxin are effective in a range of cell types, including those of nonneuronal origin. These observations lead to the conclusion that a clostridial endopeptidase conjugate that can be used to investigate SNARE-mediated processes in a variety of cells has been successfully generated.