Using electron microscopy to detect bacterial morphological changes of Campylobacter jejuni 11168 as result of a cytochrome P450 gene knockout.

After isolation in 1970s, Campylobacter jejuni become the most commonly recognized cause of bacterial gastroenteritis in man. In animals is frequently found in bovines on ovines. Publishing of the genome sequence of Campylobacter jejuni 11168 (Parkhill, 2000) revealed the presence of only one cytochrome P450 in an operon involved in sugar and cell surface biosynthesis. The gene name is Cj1411c, is 1359 bp long and encodes 453 aa. The sequence is strictly conserved in Campylobacter jejuni RM221. Similarities with two cytochrome P450s, one form Silicobacter sp. and one form Poloromonas sp., were identified. These two enzymes are known to be involved in ascorbate and aldarate metabolism. The recombinant construct allowed the expression of active P450 enzyme with a 450 nm peak when binds CO. The protein was purified in proportion of approximately 70%. By deleting the P450 gene from the Campylobacter jejuni 11168 genome clear changes in cell morphology were identified cells becoming wider and shorter. The capsular sugar profile of the NCI strain reveals the presence of arabinose which was not found in the wild type strain.