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To extend the capacity to phenotype Campylobacter jejuni to include virulence-related properties by:
<UL> <LI> Developing standard virulotyping methods
<LI> Virulotyping and susceptibility testing the CAMPYNET strains
<LI> Transferring the appropriate technologies to other laboratories
<LI> Sharing the data using a web-based database
CAMPYNET II, has exploited this unique resource of the CAMPYNET strain set to standardise and apply virulotyping techniques to C. jejuni. Properties, including in vitro invasion and toxin expression, plasmid content and antimicrobial susceptibility as well as the presence of potential virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes were selected. For each assay, standardised criteria were developed and used to characterise a core panel of 20 C. jejuni strains. For several assays laboratory comparisons were undertaken to investigate reproducibility. <P>
The assay results have been collated in a database, which will include the original CAMPYNET data and is publically available. This investigation has resulted in (i) extension to knowledge of the international standard strain set and (ii) European collaborations, which will continue to investigate the pathogenic mechanisms of C. jejuni. <P>