Transcriptional analysis of flagellar and putative virulence genes of Arcobacter butzleri as an endocytobiont of Acanthamoeba castellanii
Transcriptional analysis of flagellar and putative virulence genes of Arcobacter butzleri as an endocytobiont of Acanthamoeba castellanii
Authors
Medina, Gustavo
Neves, Patricia
Flores-Martin, Sandra
Manosalva, Carolina
Andaur, Marcela
Otth, Carola
Lincopan, Nilton
Fernandez, Heriberto
Neves, Patricia
Flores-Martin, Sandra
Manosalva, Carolina
Andaur, Marcela
Otth, Carola
Lincopan, Nilton
Fernandez, Heriberto
Authors
Date
Datos de publicación:
10.1007/s00203-019-01678-0
Keywords
Arcobacter - Flagellar genes - Endosymbiosis - Acanthamoeba
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Abstract
Arcobacter butzleri is an emerging foodborne zoonotic pathogen that has been isolated from environmental water sources. This pathogen establishes in vitro endosymbiotic relationships with Acanthamoeba castellanii, a free-living amoeba found in environmental matrices such as soil and water. The principal aim of this study was to analyse the transcriptional pattern of flagellar (flaA-flaB-flgH-motA) and other putative virulence genes (ciaB-cadF-mviN-pldA) of A. butzleri during its interaction with A. castellanii by quantitative real-time PCR. The transcriptional analysis showed up-regulation of all genes analysed before A. butzleri became established as an endocytobiont of A. castellanii. In contrast, while A. butzleri remains an endocytobiont, a significant and sustained decrease in the transcription of all analysed genes was observed. Our findings suggest that A. butzleri requires a biphasic transcriptional pattern of flagellar and other putative virulence genes to establish an endosymbiotic relationship with A. castellanii.