Campylobacter jejuni colonization is associated with a dysbiosis in the cecal microbiota of mice in the absence of prominent inflammation
Date
2013
Authors
Lone, Abdul G.
Selinger, L. Brent
Uwiera, Richard R. E.
Xu, Yong
Inglis, G. Douglas
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Public Library of Science
Abstract
Background: Campylobacter jejuni causes enterocolitis in humans, but does not incite disease in asymptomatic
carrier animals. To survive in the intestine, C. jejuni must successfully compete with the microbiota and overcome the
host immune defense. Campylobacter jejuni colonization success varies considerably amongst individual mice, and
we examined the degree to which the intestinal microbiota was affected in mice (i.e. a model carrier animal)
colonized by C. jejuni at high relative to low densities.
Methods: Mice were inoculated with C. jejuni or buffer, and pathogen shedding and intestinal colonization were
measured. Histopathologic scoring and quantification of mRNA expression for α-defensins, toll-like receptors, and
cytokine genes were conducted. Mucosa-associated bacterial communities were characterized by two approaches:
multiplexed barcoded pyrosequencing and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.
Results: Two C. jejuni treatments were established based on the degree of cecal and colonic colonization; C. jejuni
Group A animals were colonized at high cell densities, and C. jejuni Group B animals were colonized at lower cell
densities. Histological examination of cecal and colonic tissues indicated that C. jejuni did not incite visible pathologic
changes. Although there was no significant difference among treatments in expression of mRNA for α-defensins, tolllike
receptors, or cytokine genes, a trend for increased expression of toll-like receptors and cytokine genes was
observed for C. jejuni Group A. The results of the two methods to characterize bacterial communities indicated that
the composition of the cecal microbiota of C. jejuni Group A mice differed significantly from C. jejuni Group B and
Control mice. This difference was due to a reduction in load, diversity and richness of bacteria associated with the
cecal mucosa of C. jejuni Group A mice.
Conclusions: High density colonization by C. jejuni is associated with a dysbiosis in the cecal microbiota
independent of prominent inflammation.
Description
Sherpa Romeo green journal; open access
Keywords
Campylobacter jejuni , Dysbiosis , Cecal microbiota , Mice , Colonization , Mice
Citation
Lone, A. G., Selinger, L. B., Uwiera, R. R. E., Xu, Y., & Inglis, G. D. (2013). Campylobacter jejuni colonization is associated with a dysbiosis in the cecal microbiota of mice in the absence of prominent inflammation. PLoS ONE 8(9), e75325. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0075325