title: Description of Campylobacter jejuni Bf, an atypical aero-tolerant strain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Campylobacter jejuni is a leading cause of bacterial enteritis worldwide. This microaerophilic bacterium can survive in aerobic environments, suggesting it has protective mechanisms against oxidative stress. The clinical C. jejuni Bf strain is characterized by an increased resistance to oxygen. This study aimed to characterize the behavior of the clinical C. jejuni Bf strain under an aerobic atmosphere and in response to ROS-promoter agents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Growth was studied in both aerobic and microaerobic conditions using classic cultivable methods. Electronic microscopy and mreB gene expression were used to evaluate the morphology of this strain under aerobic conditions. The survival under oxidative stress was tested in the presence of different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and paraquat (PQ).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that C. jejuni Bf strain can grow aerobically, unlike other strains of C. jejuni tested. Cells of C. jejuni Bf exposed to oxidative stress presented changes in morphology and the gene mreB, responsible for maintaining the bacillary cell morphology, was down-expressed. In aerobically acclimated conditions, C. jejuni Bf exhibited a higher survival rate of 52 % in the presence of H2O2 (1 mM) compared to the reference strain NCTC 11168. Concentrations above 1 mM PQ were lethal for the reference strain but not for C. jejuni Bf.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, these data highlight the resistance to oxidative stress conditions of C. jejuni Bf, indicating that this microorganism seems more adapted to survival in hostile environmental conditions.
authors.affiliation: ONIRIS National College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering, Route de Gachet - La Chantrerie, BP 40706, 44307 Nantes Cedex 03, France ; Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Rue de la Geraudière, 44000 Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Ramila Cristiane
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: ONIRIS National College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering, Route de Gachet - La Chantrerie, BP 40706, 44307 Nantes Cedex 03, France ; Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Rue de la Geraudière, 44000 Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Anne-Lise
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Pocheron
authors.affiliation: ONIRIS National College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering, Route de Gachet - La Chantrerie, BP 40706, 44307 Nantes Cedex 03, France ; Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Rue de la Geraudière, 44000 Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernould
authors.affiliation: ONIRIS National College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering, Route de Gachet - La Chantrerie, BP 40706, 44307 Nantes Cedex 03, France ; Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Rue de la Geraudière, 44000 Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Nabila
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.affiliation: ONIRIS National College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering, Route de Gachet - La Chantrerie, BP 40706, 44307 Nantes Cedex 03, France ; Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Rue de la Geraudière, 44000 Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Odile
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tresse
authors.affiliation: ONIRIS National College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering, Route de Gachet - La Chantrerie, BP 40706, 44307 Nantes Cedex 03, France ; Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Rue de la Geraudière, 44000 Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2947-8609
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cappelier
keywords: Campylobacter jejuni; Cell shape; Hydrogen peroxide; Oxygen tolerance; Paraquat