Insect infection model for Campylobacter jejuni reveals that O-methyl phosphoramidate has insecticidal activity.
Galleria mellonella (wax moth) larvae have elsewhere been shown to be susceptible to pathogens such as Francisella tularensis, Burkholderia mallei, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We report that the larvae are rapidly killed by Campylobacter jejuni at 37C. Three strains of C. jejuni tested, 11168H (human diarrheal isolate), G1 (human Guillain-Barré syndrome isolate), and 81-176 (human diarrheal isolate), were equally effective at killing G. mellonella larvae. A panel of defined mutants of C. jejuni 11168H, in known or putative virulence genes, showed different degrees of attenuation in G. mellonella larvae. A mutant lacking the O-methyl phosphoramidate (MeOPN) capsule side group was attenuated, clearly demonstrating that MeOPN has a role in virulence. This new model of C. jejuni infection should facilitate the identification of novel virulence genes.
Champion
Olivia L
OL
School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, United Kingdom.
Karlyshev
Andrey V
AV
Senior
Nicola J
NJ
Woodward
Martin
M
La Ragione
Roberto
R
Howard
Sarah L
SL
Wren
Brendan W
BW
Titball
Richard W
RW
D000577:Amides / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D016123:Campylobacter jejuni / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D055786:Gene Knockout Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D009036:Moths / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D010756:Phosphoric Acids / Q000633:toxicity*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013696:Temperature; D014774:Virulence; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
D000577:Amides; D010756:Phosphoric Acids; D037521:Virulence Factors; C011067:phosphoramidic acid