Expression of invasiveness of Campylobacter jejuni ssp jejuni after serialintraperitoneal passages in mice

We investigated the possibility of inducing the expression of invasiveness in 10 non-invading, laboratory-adapted Campylobacter jejuni ssp. jejuni str ains, after serial intraperitoneal (i.p.) passage in mice. All the strains expressed invasive capacity after the first passage, with an increase in in vasion rates and the number of internalized bacteria after each passage. Th ese results suggest that i.p. passage enhances the expression of invasivene ss in C. jejuni ssp. jejuni strains.