Construction and characterization of a Campylobacter jejuni fliD mutant

Abstract:

[Objective] We studied the biological characteristics of the fliD mutant strain to clarify the function and mechanism of fliD gene.[Methods] The fliD mutant was constructed through homologous recombination, and biological characteristics of the fliD mutant were identified in comparison with the wild type of Campylobacter jejuni.[Results] Mutant NCTC11168△fliD presented the same biochemical indexes and similar growth curves of the wild type. After being inoculated into semisolid Mueller Hinton ager plate, the wild strain presented diffusion growth phenotype, but fliD mutant could only grow in the site inoculated, indicating that its motility was significantly reduced. The adhesion rate and invasion rate of fliD mutant were 164.00±19.49 and 55.00±6.09 respectively, which means that the mutation of fliD gene significantly reduced the rates of adhesion and invasion.[Conclusion] fliD gene was not only an important molecular basis for bacterial motility but also necessary for the adhesion and invasion of Campylobacter jejuni infection cells.