Campylobacter from glycome to pathogenesis

Abstract

Genome sequencing of Campylobacter jejuni NCTC11168 identified an abundance of carbohydrate biosynthetic clusters comprising a large proportion of the genome. Many of these pathways were already under investigation including the lipooligosaccharide, flagellar O-linked protein glycosylation, and general N-linked protein glycosylation systems. Genome sequencing also identified a novel cluster of genes, which was subsequently shown to be involved in capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis. In order to fully understand the C. jejuni glycome, sophisticated analytical techniques were employed for functional characterization. We will describe these four important carbohydrate pathways highlighting the methods used to characterize these systems, the biological relevance the sugars play in campylobacter survival and pathogenesis, and the potential exploitation of the glycome for novel therapeutics against this common food-borne pathogen. © 2006 Humana Press Inc.