Genomic analyses, mutants' construction and phenotypic characterization of Campylobacter coli strains isolated from different sources during 16 years in Brazil

• Grant number: 20/05362-1
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2022
• Effective date (End): February 29, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal researcher: Juliana Pfrimer Falcão
• Grantee: Carolina Nogueira Gomes
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The infection caused by Campylobacter spp. is a zoonosis of worldwide distribution with significant repercussions in the level of Public Health and with a high socio-economic impact. However, in Brazil the study and isolation of C. coli has not been frequent, making it difficult to evaluate the importance of this pathogen in this country. The aims of this project are to analyze, by whole genome, mutants' construction and phenotypic tests related to virulence, resistance and survival to different stress conditions, 63 C. coli strains isolated from humans, animals, the environment and food between 1995-2001 in Brazil. The comparative analysis of the whole genome by wgMLST, ANI, pan-genome and CRISPR system will be performed for all C. coli strains of this study. The presence of genes related to virulence, pathogenicity islands, phage sequences, presence of plasmids, metabolic islands and the presence of tlp genes belonging to groups A, B and C, related to chemotaxis, biofilm formation, interaction with human intestinal cells and colonization in birds, will be analyzed. Phenotypic tests of motility, biofilm formation, air tolerance, resistance to freezing, heating, peracetic acid and virulence assay in Galleria mellonella will be carried out for all strains in the present study. After the identification of the tlp present, the mutants' construction by deleting one or more tlp of choice and the phenotype analyses of the mutant strains will be performed. Due to the paucity of studies involving the C. coli species, studies that aim to elucidate the mechanisms of pathogenicity, virulence and survival under different stress conditions are unpublished and of great importance. The results to be obtained should contribute significantly to the characterization of C. coli isolated during 16 years in Brazil, collaborating for a better understanding of this pathogen considered of great importance worldwide.