The fucP gene was shown to be present only in isolates negative for ggt[8], which is in accordance with our findings. The ggt-positive group 2 is almost completely free of fucP-positive isolates. Interestingly, group 6 isolates, positive for the ggt-associated marker genes ansB and dmsA but not for ggt, are mostly able to utilize L-fucose. The fucP distribution pattern is similar to that of the livestock-association marker genes cj1321-cj1326 and the serine protease Cj1365 [2]. Thus, fucP should be considered as a further marker for livestock association. Fludarabine supplier It can be suggested that the fucose permease is a crucial prerequisite for dwelling in the mucosa layer,

while it enables

the bacterial cell to metabolize mucosal L-fucose. The ability to acquire iron is an essential prerequisite for bacterial replication and thus an important virulence factor especially in iron restricted environments [17, 18]. While C. jejuni has no own siderophores [10] it makes use of exogenous siderophores produced by accompanying bacterial PRIMA-1MET chemical structure species [19]. At all five different iron uptake systems have been detected in the genome of C. jejuni NCTC 11168 [10], but the genome sequence of strain 81–176 reveals three fundamental differences in this regard [9]. Cju15, a protein of unknown function, replaces the gene cfrA/cj0755, which encodes a ferric uptake receptor [9]. A second iron uptake transport system encoded by the genes cj0173c-cj0182 is missing critical components e.g. cj0178 and tonB3[9], and in the gene cluster encoding the enterochelin uptake system cju30 is inserted between cj1355 and cj1356c[9]. Additionally the enterochelin uptake system (CeuBCDE; Cj1352 to Cj1355) is ubiquitous Rutecarpine within the C. jejuni population, but it shows sequence variability detectable by PCR using different primers. A C. jejuni subpopulation, associated

with a higher rate of bloody diarrhea requiring hospitalization, was identified by Feodoroff and coworkers [7]. This subpopulation was positive for ggt, but ceuE was not detectable using ceuE-primers derived from the NCTC 11168 genome sequence. This subpopulation corresponds to group 2 in our scheme. In a significant number of group 2 isolates it was only possible to detect the ubiquitous gene for ceuE using primers derived from the genome sequence of C. jejuni strain 81–176 (for pldA we detected no significant differences). In this group of isolates the iron uptake system components cj0178 and cfrA/cj755 are absent in nearly 100% of the isolates. Thus, the two groups identified by Feodoroff et al. associated with bloody stools/GGT-production and an increased hospitalization rate/ceuE 11168-presence overlap to a larger part that corresponds to group 2B.