Growth phase-dependent activation of the DccRS regulon of Campylobacter jejuni.

Two-component systems are widespread prokaryotic signal transduction devices which allow the regulation of cellular functions in response to changing environmental conditions. The two-component system DccRS (Cj1223c-Cj1222c) of Campylobacter jejuni is important for the colonization of chickens. Here, we dissect the DccRS system in more detail and provide evidence that the sensor DccS selectively phosphorylates the cognate effector, DccR.

Nucleases encoded by the integrated elements CJIE2 and CJIE4 inhibit natural transformation of Campylobacter jejuni.

The species Campylobacter jejuni is naturally competent for DNA uptake; nevertheless, nonnaturally transformable strains do exist. For a subset of strains we previously showed that a periplasmic DNase, encoded by dns, inhibits natural transformation in C. jejuni.

A DNase encoded by integrated element CJIE1 inhibits natural transformation of Campylobacter jejuni.

The species Campylobacter jejuni is considered naturally competent for DNA uptake and displays strong genetic diversity. Nevertheless, nonnaturally transformable strains and several relatively stable clonal lineages exist. In the present study, the molecular mechanism responsible for the nonnatural transformability of a subset of C.

Comparative genomic analysis of clinical strains of Campylobacter jejuni from South Africa.

Background: Campylobacter jejuni is a common cause of acute gastroenteritis and is also associated with the post-infectious neuropathies, Guillain-Barré and Miller Fisher syndromes. In the Cape Town area of South Africa, C. jejuni strains with Penner heat-stable (HS) serotype HS:41 have been observed to be overrepresented among cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome.

The Campylobacter jejuni PhosS/PhosR operon represents a non-classical phosphate-sensitive two-component system.

The bacterial pathogen Campylobacter jejuni carries several putative two-component signal transduction systems of unknown function. Here we report that the PhosS (Cj0889) and PhosR (Cj0890) proteins constitute a two-component system that is activated by phosphate limitation. Microarray analysis, real-time RT-PCR, and primer extension experiments indicated that this system regulates 12 genes (including the pstSCAB genes) present in three transcriptional units.

Characterization of putative rolling-circle plasmids from the Gram-negative bacterium Xylella fastidiosa and their use as shuttle vectors.

This study was initiated to characterize a small Xylella fastidiosa (X. fastidiosa) plasmid and attempt to create a X. fastidosa/Escherichia coli shuttle vector that was stable in planta.

Identification of Xylella fastidiosa antivirulence genes: hemagglutinin adhesins contribute a biofilm maturation to X. fastidios and colonization and attenuate virulence.

Xylella fastidosa, a gram-negative, xylem-limited bacterium, is the causal agent of several economically important plant diseases, including Pierce's disease (PD) and citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC). Until recently, the inability to transform or produce transposon mutants of X. fastidosa had been a major impediment to identifying X.

Transformation of Xylella fastidiosa with broad host range RSF1010 derivative plasmids.

SUMMARY The Gram-negative, fastidious bacterium Xylella fastidiosa was successfully transformed with two RSF1010 derivative plasmids belonging to the incompatibility group IncQ, using electroporation. These two derivative plasmids, pXF004 and pXF005, were found to be present as autonomous, structurally unchanged DNA molecules when propagated in X. fastidiosa.

Transposon mutagenesis of Xylella fastidiosa by electroporation of Tn5 synaptic complexes.

Pierce's disease, a lethal disease of grapevine, is caused by Xylella fastidiosa, a gram-negative, xylem-limited bacterium that is transmitted from plant to plant by xylem-feeding insects. Strains of X. fastidiosa also have been associated with diseases that cause tremendous losses in many other economically important plants, including citrus.

Genetic diversity of Pierce's disease strains and other pathotypes of Xylella fastidiosa.

Strains of Xylella fastidiosa isolated from grape, almond, maple, and oleander were characterized by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus sequence-, repetitive extragenic palindromic element (REP)-, and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR; contour-clamped homogeneous electric field (CHEF) gel electrophoresis; plasmid content; and sequencing of the 16S-23S rRNA spacer region. Combining methods gave greater resolution of strain groupings than any single method. Strains isolated from grape with Pierce's disease (PD) from California, Florida, and Georgia showed greater than previously reported genetic variability, including plasmid contents, but formed a cluster based on analysis of RAPD-PCR products, NotI and SpeI genomic DNA fingerprints, and 16S-23S rRNA spacer region sequence.