Campylobacter jejuni virulence genes and immune-inflammatory biomarkers association with growth impairment in children from Northeastern Brazil

Collection Location Koleksi E-book & E-Journal Perpustakaan Pusat Unila
Edition Vol. 37, Issue. 10
Call Number
ISBN/ISSN 1435-4373
Author(s) Nascimento Veras, Herlice do...[et al.]
Subject(s) Biomedicine
Classification NONE
Series Title
GMD E-Journal
Language English
Publisher Springer
Publishing Year 2018
Publishing Place Switzerland
Abstract/Notes Abstract
Campylobacter spp. have been associated with anthropometric Z-score decrements, but the role of specific virulence genes
associated with these outcomes has not been explored. This study aimed to investigate whether specific Campylobacter
jejuni virulence-related gene and immune-inflammatory biomarkers are associated with malnutrition in children from
Northeastern Brazil. A case-control study was performed in Fortaleza, Brazil. Children aging 6–24 months were characterized
as malnourished (cases) if weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ) = 2 and as nourished (controls) ifWAZ ≥ 1. DNA samples
were extracted from stools and screened for C. jejuni/coli by real-time PCR. A subsequent C. jejuni-specific PCR was
employed and positive samples were evaluated for 18 C. jejuni virulence genes by using four multiplex PCRs. C. jejuni
was detected in 9.71% (33/340) of the children’s samples, being 63.63% (21/33) from nourished and 37.37% (12/33) from
malnourished children. The cadF, iamA, cheW, and sodB genes were the most frequent genes (100%, 90.9%, 87.9%, and
75.8%, respectively), while some others (ceuE, jlpA, pldA, and pVir) showed low rates (all below 6%). Malnourished
children were significantly associated with infection with C. jejuni strains lacking cdtB gene (active subunit of cytolethal
distending toxin) and harboring flgE gene (flagellar hook protein). These strains were also associated with children
presenting increased serum SAA and sCD-14, but decreased IgG anti-LPS. These data reinforce the impact of
Campylobacter jejuni infection on children without diarrhea and highlight the contribution of a specific virulence gene
profile, cdtB(−)flgE(+) and increased systemic response in malnutrition children.
Keywords Campylobacter . Malnutrition . Virulence traits . Immune-inflammatory biomarkers
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