Characterization of aquatic clade 2 and 3 Campylobacter coli isolates from Slovenia reveals admixture with other Campylobacter species
Abstract Campylobacter coli, a significant foodborne pathogen, has undergone extensive genetic exchange with its close relative, Campylobacter jejuni, leading to the emergence of three distinct clades. While clade 1 strains are commonly isolated from clinical and agricultural sources, clades 2 and 3...
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-025-04042-z |
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| author | Stephan Lorenzen Anastasia-Lisa Dieckmann Sonja Smole Možina Katja Zelenik Pauline Marquardt Aljoscha Tersteegen Achim J. Kaasch Wolfgang Bohne Andreas Erich Zautner |
| author_facet | Stephan Lorenzen Anastasia-Lisa Dieckmann Sonja Smole Možina Katja Zelenik Pauline Marquardt Aljoscha Tersteegen Achim J. Kaasch Wolfgang Bohne Andreas Erich Zautner |
| author_sort | Stephan Lorenzen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Campylobacter coli, a significant foodborne pathogen, has undergone extensive genetic exchange with its close relative, Campylobacter jejuni, leading to the emergence of three distinct clades. While clade 1 strains are commonly isolated from clinical and agricultural sources, clades 2 and 3 are primarily found in aquatic environments. This study aimed to enhance our understanding of C. coli clade 2 and 3 isolates through genomic and phenotypic characterization. A total of 48 surface water samples were collected from 19 different water bodies throughout Slovenia, and eleven Campylobacter isolates initially identified as C. coli from clades 2 and 3 were cultured. Whole genome sequencing was then performed on these isolates. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted using core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) and k-mer analysis. Phenotypic characterization included growth analysis, autoagglutination, biofilm formation, motility, antimicrobial susceptibility, water survival, and metabolic profiling. Genomic analysis revealed significant admixture with other Campylobacter species in the clade 2 and 3 isolates. One isolate was found to represent a new species related to C. coli. Besides C. jejuni and C. lari, this novel species appears to have contributed to introgression in the C. coli clades 2 and 3 isolates. Phenotypic characterization demonstrated diverse growth patterns, motility, autoagglutination abilities, and biofilm formation among the isolates. This study provides new insights into the genetic diversity and phenotypic characteristics of aquatic C. coli clade 2 and 3 isolates from Slovenia. The observed admixture with other Campylobacter species highlights the complex evolutionary history of these environmental strains and underscores the importance of continued surveillance and characterization of Campylobacter isolates from diverse ecological niches. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-abdae7e1734c46e280e6aa50d3f82bfd |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1471-2180 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-abdae7e1734c46e280e6aa50d3f82bfd2025-08-20T02:34:17ZengBMCBMC Microbiology1471-21802025-05-0125111710.1186/s12866-025-04042-zCharacterization of aquatic clade 2 and 3 Campylobacter coli isolates from Slovenia reveals admixture with other Campylobacter speciesStephan Lorenzen0Anastasia-Lisa Dieckmann1Sonja Smole Možina2Katja Zelenik3Pauline Marquardt4Aljoscha Tersteegen5Achim J. Kaasch6Wolfgang Bohne7Andreas Erich Zautner8Bioinformatics Group, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical MedicineInstitute for Medical Microbiology and Virology, University Medical Center GöttingenDepartment of Food Science and Technology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of LjubljanaCenter for Microbiological Analysis of Food, Water and Other Environmental Samples, National Laboratory of Health, Environment and FoodInstitute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Medical Faculty, Otto von Guericke University MagdeburgInstitute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Medical Faculty, Otto von Guericke University MagdeburgInstitute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Medical Faculty, Otto von Guericke University MagdeburgInstitute for Medical Microbiology and Virology, University Medical Center GöttingenInstitute for Medical Microbiology and Virology, University Medical Center GöttingenAbstract Campylobacter coli, a significant foodborne pathogen, has undergone extensive genetic exchange with its close relative, Campylobacter jejuni, leading to the emergence of three distinct clades. While clade 1 strains are commonly isolated from clinical and agricultural sources, clades 2 and 3 are primarily found in aquatic environments. This study aimed to enhance our understanding of C. coli clade 2 and 3 isolates through genomic and phenotypic characterization. A total of 48 surface water samples were collected from 19 different water bodies throughout Slovenia, and eleven Campylobacter isolates initially identified as C. coli from clades 2 and 3 were cultured. Whole genome sequencing was then performed on these isolates. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted using core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) and k-mer analysis. Phenotypic characterization included growth analysis, autoagglutination, biofilm formation, motility, antimicrobial susceptibility, water survival, and metabolic profiling. Genomic analysis revealed significant admixture with other Campylobacter species in the clade 2 and 3 isolates. One isolate was found to represent a new species related to C. coli. Besides C. jejuni and C. lari, this novel species appears to have contributed to introgression in the C. coli clades 2 and 3 isolates. Phenotypic characterization demonstrated diverse growth patterns, motility, autoagglutination abilities, and biofilm formation among the isolates. This study provides new insights into the genetic diversity and phenotypic characteristics of aquatic C. coli clade 2 and 3 isolates from Slovenia. The observed admixture with other Campylobacter species highlights the complex evolutionary history of these environmental strains and underscores the importance of continued surveillance and characterization of Campylobacter isolates from diverse ecological niches.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-025-04042-zCampylobacter coliClade 2Clade 3IntrogressionCampylobacter lari admixtureCampylobacter jejuni admixture |
| spellingShingle | Stephan Lorenzen Anastasia-Lisa Dieckmann Sonja Smole Možina Katja Zelenik Pauline Marquardt Aljoscha Tersteegen Achim J. Kaasch Wolfgang Bohne Andreas Erich Zautner Characterization of aquatic clade 2 and 3 Campylobacter coli isolates from Slovenia reveals admixture with other Campylobacter species BMC Microbiology Campylobacter coli Clade 2 Clade 3 Introgression Campylobacter lari admixture Campylobacter jejuni admixture |
| title | Characterization of aquatic clade 2 and 3 Campylobacter coli isolates from Slovenia reveals admixture with other Campylobacter species |
| title_full | Characterization of aquatic clade 2 and 3 Campylobacter coli isolates from Slovenia reveals admixture with other Campylobacter species |
| title_fullStr | Characterization of aquatic clade 2 and 3 Campylobacter coli isolates from Slovenia reveals admixture with other Campylobacter species |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization of aquatic clade 2 and 3 Campylobacter coli isolates from Slovenia reveals admixture with other Campylobacter species |
| title_short | Characterization of aquatic clade 2 and 3 Campylobacter coli isolates from Slovenia reveals admixture with other Campylobacter species |
| title_sort | characterization of aquatic clade 2 and 3 campylobacter coli isolates from slovenia reveals admixture with other campylobacter species |
| topic | Campylobacter coli Clade 2 Clade 3 Introgression Campylobacter lari admixture Campylobacter jejuni admixture |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-025-04042-z |
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