AUTHOR=Okoye Jennifer C. , Holland Alexandria , Pitoulias Matthaios , Paschalis Vasileios , Piddubnyi Artem , Dufailu Osman A. , Borén Thomas , Oldfield Neil J. , Mahdavi Jafar , Soultanas Panos 

TITLE=Ferric quinate (QPLEX) inhibits the interaction of major outer membrane protein (MOMP) with the Lewis b (Leb) antigen and limits Campylobacter colonization in broilers

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1146418

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2023.1146418

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Campylobacter jejuni</italic> colonizes hosts by interacting with Blood Group Antigens (BgAgs) on the surface of gastrointestinal epithelia. Genetic variations in BgAg expression affects host susceptibility to <italic>C. jejuni</italic>. Here, we show that the essential major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of <italic>C. jejuni</italic> NCTC11168 binds to the Lewis b (Le<sup>b</sup>) antigen on the gastrointestinal epithelia of host tissues and this interaction can be competitively inhibited by ferric quinate (QPLEX), a ferric chelate structurally similar to bacterial siderophores. We provide evidence that QPLEX competitively inhibits the MOMP-Le<sup>b</sup> interaction. Furthermore, we demonstrate that QPLEX can be used as a feed additive in broiler farming to significantly reduce <italic>C. jejuni</italic> colonization. Our results indicate that QPLEX can be a viable alternative to the preventative use of antibiotics in broiler farming to combat <italic>C. jejuni</italic> infections.</p>