Deciphering Campylobacter jejuni cell surface interactions from the genomesequence

The completion of the Campylobacter jejuni genome sequence is a landmark in Campylobacter research. Discoveries directly arising from these data inclu de the identification of a capsular polysaccharide, extensive capacity for phase variable gene expression and lipo-oligosaccharide structural phase va riation. The recent identification of a unique system of general protein gl ycosylation in C. jejuni, a C. jejuni protein that is translocated into euk aryotic cells, and plasmid-encoded components of a putative type IV secreti on system are likely to be significant in terms of the host-pathogen intera ction.