Comparative analysis of the whole genome, transcriptome and phenotypic characterization of Campylobacter jejuni strains isolated from diverse sources during 20 years in Brazil

• Grant number: 18/06904-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: July 01, 2018
• End date: November 30, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Juliana Pfrimer Falcão
• Grantee: Miliane Rodrigues Frazão
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Campylobacteriosis is a zoonosis with a large distribution worldwide, and Campylobacter jejuni is an important cause of gastroenteritis in humans in many European countries, as well as in the United States, Canada, Australia, among others. However, in Brazil the study and isolation of C. jejuni are not frequent, which makes it difficult to evaluate the importance and dimension of this pathogen as a cause of disease in humans in our country. The aims of this project are to analyze and to compare, through the whole genome sequencing, transcriptome sequencing and virulence-related phenotypic tests, C. jejuni strains isolated from humans, animals, the environment and food during 20 years in Brazil. The comparative analysis of the whole genome sequencing will be performed in 116 C. jejuni strains isolated from humans (47), animals (35), food (32) and the environment (02). The phenotypic tests of tolerance of temperature variations, acid stress and oxidative stress, virulence in Galleria mellonella, invasion of CACO-2 cells and multiplication and survival in U937 human macrophages will be performed in 46 C. jejuni strains isolated from humans (18), animals (14) and food (14). Furthermore, the transcriptome analysis of six C. jejuni strains that present significant differences against the phenotypic tests of acid and oxidative stress will be performed, and the RNAs will be extracted after submitting the strains to each stress and also in ideal conditions of growth. Due to the paucity of studies involving C. jejuni strains in our country, studies that aim the whole genome sequencing analysis and the elucidation of the possible mechanisms of pathogenicity and virulence in such strains are innovative and extremely important. Therefore, the results to be obtained should contribute to the characterization of C. jejuni strains isolated during 20 years in Brazil, collaborating to the better understanding of this pathogen of great importance in the world.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FRAZAO, MILIANE RODRIGUES; CAO, GUOJIE; MEDEIROS, MARTA INES CAZENTINI; DUQUE, SHEILA DA SILVA; ALLARD, MARC WILLIAM; FALCAO, JULIANA PFRIMER. Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles and Phylogenetic Analysis ofCampylobacter jejuniStrains Isolated in Brazil by Whole Genome Sequencing. MICROBIAL DRUG RESISTANCE, v. 27, n. 5, p. 660-669, MAY 1 2021. (14/13029-0, 16/24716-3, 18/06904-2, 19/19338-8)