AUTHOR=Alemka Abofu , Corcionivoschi Nicolae , Bourke Billy 

TITLE=Defense and Adaptation: The Complex Inter-Relationship between Campylobacter jejuni and Mucus

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=2

YEAR=2012

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2012.00015

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2012.00015

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<p>Mucus colonization is an essential early step toward establishing successful infection and disease by mucosal pathogens. There is an emerging literature implicating specific mucin sub-types and mucin modifications in protecting the host from <italic>Campylobacter jejuni</italic> infection. However, mucosal pathogens have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to breach the mucus layer and <italic>C. jejuni</italic> in particular appears to harbor specific adaptations to better colonize intestinal mucus. For example, components of mucus are chemotactic for <italic>C. jejuni</italic> and the rheological properties of mucus promote motility of the organism. Furthermore, recent studies demonstrate that mucins modulate the pathogenicity of <italic>C. jejuni</italic> in a species-specific manner and likely help determine whether these bacteria become pathogenic (as in humans), or adopt a commensal mode of existence (as in chickens and other animals). This review focuses on recent advances in understanding the complex interplay between <italic>C. jejuni</italic> and components of the mucus layer.</p>