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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania » Eastern Regional Research Center » Characterization and Interventions for Foodborne Pathogens » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #331700
Research Project: Molecular Characterization of Foodborne Pathogen Responses to Stress

Location: Characterization and Interventions for Foodborne Pathogens

Title: Complete genome sequence of UV-resistant Campylobacter jejuni RM3194, including an 81.08-kilobase plasmid

Author
item Gunther, Nereus - Jack
item Reichenberger, Erin
item Bono, James - Jim

Submitted to: Genome Announcements
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/8/2016
Publication Date: 4/28/2016
Citation: Gunther, N.W., Reichenberger, E.R., Bono, J.L. 2016. Complete genome sequence of UV-resistant Campylobacter jejuni RM3194, including an 81.08-kilobase plasmid. Genome Announcements. 4(2):e00305-16.

Interpretive Summary: Campylobacter jejuni is a pathogenic bacterium and one of the leading causes of foodborne illness worldwide. More information related to how C. jejuni causes illness and is able to survive in food environments is needed. To address this, the DNA sequence of the genome (the complete set of genes or genetic material of an organism) of a strain of C. jejuni was determined. In addition to knowledge of all of the genes present in this strain of C. jejuni, one important finding from this work was the presence of gene that confers resistance to ultraviolet light (UV), and interestingly, this C. jejuni strain shows resistance to UV light. UV light is often used as a method to inactivate bacteria in clinical and food processing environments. Therefore, this UV resistance gene can serve as a biomarker for increased persistence of C. jejuni in food processing environments. Campylobacter strains possessing this gene are an increased risk to food safety, thus this information will assist in the design of better control strategies for Campylobacter.

Technical Abstract: Campylobacter jejuni strain RM3194 was originally isolated from a human with enteritis and contains a novel 81,079-bp plasmid. RM3194 has exhibited superior survival compared to other Campylobacter jejuni strains when challenged with UV light. The chromosome of RM3194 was determined to be 1,651,183 bp, with a G+C content of 30.5%.