Mechanisms Underlying Survival of Campylobacter Jejuni during Oxidative and Nitrosative Stresses (University of Sheffield)

Campylobacter jejuni is the major cause of gastrointestinal illness in the UK and USA, but its microaerophilic lifestyle and ability to tolerate oxidative and nitrosative stresses in the food chain remain to be fully understood. <P>
We aim to build upon our genome-driven collaborative research and answer the following questions, thereby providing a rational basis for effective control strategies:<OL> <LI> What are the roles of the putative rubrerythrin- and several hemerythrin-like proteins predicted to be involved in O2 binding and or managing stress exerted by reactive oxygen species? <LI>How does the C. jejuni haemoglobin (Cgb) provide the organism with resistance to nitrosating agents and does it also function in oxygen delivery and or utilisation? <LI>What is the function of a second (truncated) globin in this pathogen in its responses to oxidative and nitrosative stresses? (Joint with grant 18368)