Abstract
Human ganglioside-like structures, such as GM1, found on some Campylobacter jejuni strains have been linked to inducing the Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). This study shows that a C. jejuni strain without GM1-like molecules acquired large DNA fragments, including lipooligosaccharide synthesis genes, from a strain expressing GM1-like molecules and consequently transformed into a number of potential GBS-inducible transformants, which exhibited a high degree of genetic and phenotypic diversity.
MeSH terms
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Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
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Campylobacter jejuni / classification
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Campylobacter jejuni / genetics*
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Campylobacter jejuni / metabolism
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DNA, Bacterial / analysis
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DNA, Bacterial / genetics
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Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
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G(M1) Ganglioside / metabolism
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Gene Transfer, Horizontal*
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Guillain-Barre Syndrome / etiology
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Guillain-Barre Syndrome / microbiology*
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Humans
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Lipopolysaccharides / biosynthesis*
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Molecular Mimicry
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Multigene Family
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Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
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Recombination, Genetic
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Transformation, Bacterial*
Substances
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Bacterial Proteins
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DNA, Bacterial
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Lipopolysaccharides
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lipid-linked oligosaccharides
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G(M1) Ganglioside