Sticky, a Novel Phenotype of Campylobacter rectus

Abstract

A new group of clinical isolates of Campylobacter rectus has been isolated, which in liquid culture form a biofilm on the walls of glass and polystyrene culture vessels, yet are highly motile when removed as clumps or single cells from the substratum. A free-swimming variant of such a sticky variant has been selected. However, no differences (other than behavioural) were detected between sticky and free-swimming forms by Western immunoblotting with various patient sera or by enzyme activity tests. Both expressed a dominant protein of c. 150 kDa, a major component of the S-layer, which is lost in many laboratory lines of C. rectus. Alteration between sessile and motile growth modes may expand the habitat range of this proposed periodontopathogen.

Key Words:

• Campylobacter rectus
• cohesion variant
• biofilm
• motility
• S-layer
• periodontitis