Variations inCampylobacter jejuniFlagellin, and Flagellin Genes, DuringIn VivoandIn VitroPassage

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Abstract
The effect of in vivo and in vitro passage on C. jejuni flagellins and flagellin genes have been studied in clinical and environmental isolates associated with a milk-borne outbreak of campylobacteriosis. The milk isolate initially expressed a flagellin with apparent molecular mass of 62 kDa, while the human faecal isolate expressed a 58 kDa flagellin. However, this latter population was found to be unstable during subculture such that after several in vitro passages only a 62 kDa flagellin was oberved. Differences were also detected in the molecular weights of the flagellins expressed after intraperitoneal passage of the milk and human isolates through mice. Southern blot analysis of the DNA isolated from the various strains demonstrated differences in the flagellin genes, as well as genes coding for translational factors. These results suggest that in vivo and in vitro passage allowed the selection of strains, expressing different flagellin phen, otypes, from pre-existing populations.