title: The Minor Flagellin ofCampylobacter jejuni(FlaB) Confers Defensive Properties against Bacteriophage Infection.
abstract: A screen of bacteriophages infecting a panel ofCampylobacter jejuniPT14 gene knock-out mutants identified a role for the minor flagellin encoded by theflaBgene, in the defense of the host against CP8unalikevirus bacteriophage CP_F1 infection. Inactivation of theflaBgene resulted in an increase in the susceptibility of PT14 cultures to infection by CP_F1 and an increase in bacteriophage yields. Infection of wild type PT14 with CP_F1 produces turbid plaques in bacterial lawns, from which 78% of the resistant isolates recovered exhibit either attenuation or complete loss of motility. CP_F1 produces clear plaques on theflaBmutant with no regrowth in the lysis zones. Complementation of the mutant restored overgrowth and the development of resistance at the expense of motility. Further analyses revealed an increase in bacteriophage adsorption constant of nearly 2-fold and burst-size 3-fold, relative to the wild type. Motility analysis showed no major reduction in swarming motility in theflaBmutant. Thus, we propose a new role for FlaB in the defense of campylobacters against bacteriophage infection.
authors.affiliation: PTC Phage Technology Center GmbH, Im Kompetenzzentrum BioSecurityBönen, Germany; Division of Food Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of NottinghamLoughborough, UK.
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lis
authors.affiliation: Division of Food Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham Loughborough, UK.
authors.forename: Ian F
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Connerton
keywords: Campylobacter; bacteriophage; flaB; flagellin; phage escape