Insights on the genomic diversity, virulence and resistance profile of a Campylobacter jejuni strain isolated from a hospitalized patient in Brazil

Author(s)

Gomes, Carolina Nogueira ; Frazao, Miliane Rodrigues ; Seribelli, Amanda Aparecida ; Barker, Dillon Oliver Reese ; Che, Emily Victoria ; Nogueira, Mara Correa Lelles ; Taboada, Eduardo Napoleon ; Falcao, Juliana Pfrimer

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Brazilian Journal of Microbiology; v. 55, n. 2, p. 11-pg., 2024-03-28.

Abstract

Campylobacteriosis is currently recognized as one of the major causes of foodborne bacterial diseases worldwide. In Brazil, there is insufficient data to estimate the impact of Campylobacter in public health. The aim of this present study was to characterize a C. jejuni CJ-HBSJRP strain isolated from a hospitalized patient in Brazil by its ability to invade human Caco-2 epithelial cells, to survive in U937 human macrophages, and to assess its phenotypic antimicrobial resistance profile. In addition, prophages, virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes were search using whole-genome sequencing data. The genetic relatedness was evaluated by MLST and cgMLST analysis by comparison with 29 other C. jejuni genomes isolated from several countries. The CJ-HBSJRP strain showed an invasion percentage of 50% in Caco-2 polarized cells, 37.5% of survivability in U937 cells and was phenotypically resistant to ampicillin, ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid. A total of 94 virulence genes related to adherence, biofilm, chemotaxis, immune modulation, invasion process, metabolism, motility and toxin were detected. The resistance genes bla(OXA-605) (bla(OXA-61)), cmeB and mutations in the QRDR region of gyrA were also found and none prophages were detected. The MLST analysis showed 23 different STs among the strains studied. Regarding cgMLST analysis, the CJ-HBSJRP strain was genetically distinct and did not group closely to any other isolate. The results obtained reinforce the pathogenic potential of the CJHBSJRP strain and highlighted the need for more careful attention to Campylobacter spp. infections in Brazil since this pathogen has been the most commonly reported zoonosis in several countries worldwide. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/19338-8 - Genomic, transcriptomic and phenotypic characterization of Campylobacter jejuni strains isolated from diverse source during 20 years in Brazil
• Grantee: Juliana Pfrimer Falcão
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/23408-0 - Phenotypic analysis, genome and transcriptome sequencing of Campylobacter coli strains isolated from different sources during 16 years in Brazil
• Grantee: Carolina Nogueira Gomes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 18/26043-1 - Whole genome sequencing and comparative genomics of Campylobacter coli strains isolated from different sources over a 16 year-period in Brazil
• Grantee: Carolina Nogueira Gomes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 22/07013-0 - Genome analyses, transcriptome, mutants' construction and phenotypic characterization of Campylobacter coli strains isolated from different sources during 25 years in Brazil
• Grantee: Juliana Pfrimer Falcão
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants