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 maier 2019 nickel microbial pathogenesis.
- 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 maier 2019 nickel microbial pathogenesis.
- Co-selection: The AcrAB-TolC efflux pump confers resistance to both fluoroquinolones AND metals, making environmental metal exposure a driver of antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter srivastava 2016 environmental resistance microbes review baker austin 2006 co selection antibiotic metal resistance.
Disease Associations
- Heart failure: Part of gut dysbiosis in heart failure via Mendelian randomization luo 2022 gut microbiota metabolites heart failure mr.
- IBD: Campylobacter concisus enriched in IBD; may act as pathobiont in inflamed mucosa wang 2024 ibd integrated 16s metagenomics virulence factors.
- Prostatitis: Detected in chronic prostatitis microbiome vocca 2025 probiotics chronic bacterial prostatitis rct.
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