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Temperature-Dependent Genome Degradation in the Coccoid Form of Campylobacter jejuni

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Abstract

Campylobacter jejuni undergoes a dramatic morphological transformation from a corkscrew-shaped rod to a coccoid form in response to unfavorable conditions. It has been speculated that the coccoid plays an important role in the survival and dissemination of C. jejuni but questions still remain regarding the viability of coccoid cells. Characterization of the genome of coccoid cells found that newly formed coccoid cells (i.e., 1–3 days) had a SmaI-digestion profile identical to that of spiral-shaped cells; however, there was a progressive degradation of the DNA with continued incubation at 37°C. Concomitant with genome degradation was the detection of DNA in supernatants of coccoid cells. In contrast, cells incubated at 4°C retained a spiral shape and their SmaI-digestion profile for 8 weeks and released little DNA into the medium. Thus, low temperature inhibited both coccoid formation and genome degradation. Collectively, these data support the theory that the coccoid form of C. jejuni is a manifestation of cellular degradation and spiral-shaped cells, or possibly coccoid cells formed at low temperature, are the most probable candidates for a viable but nonculturable form of this pathogen.

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Acknowledgments

The technical assistance of Barbara Cochrane is greatly appreciated. This work was supported by Hatch Grant WIS03640, from the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station, and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin—Madison.

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  1. Adam C. Borger

    Present address: Kraft Foods, Inc., 910 Mayer Avenue, Madison, WI, 53704, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Microbiology and Toxicology, 1925 Willow Drive, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706-1187, USA

    Judith F. Hudock, Adam C. Borger & Charles W. Kaspar

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  1. Judith F. Hudock
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  2. Adam C. Borger
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  3. Charles W. Kaspar
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Correspondence to Charles W. Kaspar.

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Hudock, J.F., Borger, A.C. & Kaspar, C.W. Temperature-Dependent Genome Degradation in the Coccoid Form of Campylobacter jejuni. Curr Microbiol 50, 110–113 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-004-4400-x

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