Pathogenesis of enteric Campylobacter infection

Campylobacter jejuni and related species are important human pathogens, cau sing acute human enterocolitis, and they are the most common cause of food- borne diarrhoea in many industrialized countries. Previous infection with c ertain strains of C. jejuni is also linked with the development of the neur ological disorder Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). Despite its importance as a human pathogen, relatively little Is understood of the mechanisms of C. j ejuni-associated disease. The recent release of the complete genome sequenc e of C. jejuni strain NCTC 11168, together with new strategies for random a nd directed mutagenesis, have allowed a better insight into some of the gen etic determinants of C. jejuni virulence. In this review current knowledge on the pathogenesis of C. jejuni infection is summarized, and possible dire ctions of future research indicated.