Campylobacter

Campylobacter is a genus of Gram-negative, microaerophilic, spiral-shaped bacteria. C. jejuni is the most common bacterial cause of foodborne gastroenteritis worldwide and a trigger for post-infectious Guillain-Barré syndrome (molecular mimicry between Campylobacter LOS and gangliosides). In the WikiBiome framework, Campylobacter is notable for its iron and nickel dependencies and its role in metal-antibiotic co-selection.

Metal Dependencies

  • Iron: Campylobacter possesses multiple iron uptake systems including siderophore receptors and heme/hemoglobin acquisition proteins. Iron restriction impairs colonization [1].
  • Nickel: NiFe-hydrogenase is essential for C. jejuni colonization of the chicken cecum and human gut — hydrogen oxidation provides a colonization advantage in the microaerobic niche [1].
  • Co-selection: The AcrAB-TolC efflux pump confers resistance to both fluoroquinolones AND metals, making environmental metal exposure a driver of antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter [2] [3].

Disease Associations

  • Heart failure: Part of gut dysbiosis in heart failure via Mendelian randomization [4].
  • IBD: Campylobacter concisus enriched in IBD; may act as pathobiont in inflamed mucosa [5].
  • Prostatitis: Detected in chronic prostatitis microbiome [6].

Cross-References

  • nickel — NiFe-hydrogenase dependency for gut colonization
  • iron — iron acquisition for virulence
  • co selection — AcrAB-TolC efflux conferring metal + antibiotic resistance
  • molecular mimicry — Guillain-Barré syndrome trigger

References (6)

  1. ★Robert J. Maier, Stéphane L. Benoit (2019). Role of Nickel in Microbial Pathogenesis. Inorganics. doi:10.3390/inorganics7070080
  2. Srivastava J, Chandra H, Singh N et al. (2016). Understanding the Development of Environmental Resistance Among Microbes: A Review. Clean - Soil, Air, Water. doi:10.1002/clen.201300975
  3. Baker-Austin C, Wright MS, Stepanauskas R et al. (2006). Baker-Austin 2006 — Co-selection of Antibiotic and Metal Resistance. Trends in Microbiology. doi:10.1016/j.tim.2006.02.006
  4. Qiang Luo, Yilan Hu, Xin Chen et al. (2022). Effects of Gut Microbiota and Metabolites on Heart Failure and Its Risk Factors: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study. Frontiers in Nutrition. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.899746
  5. Haijing Wang, Yuanjun Wang, Libin Yang et al. (2024). Wang 2024 — Integrated 16S rRNA sequencing and metagenomics insights into microbial dysbiosis and distinct virulence factors in inflammatory bowel disease. Frontiers in Microbiology. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2024.1375804
  6. Cristina Vocca, Diana Marisol Abrego-Guandique, Erika Cione et al. (2025). Vocca 2025 — Probiotics in the Management of Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis: A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial to Evaluate a Possible Link Between Gut Microbiota Restoring and Symptom Relief. Microorganisms. doi:10.3390/microorganisms13010130

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