Curr. Issues Intestinal. Microbiol. (2001) 2 (2): 55-71
1School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-4233, USA
2Departments of Veterinary Science and Microbiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
Campylobacter jejuni, a gram-negative spiral shaped bacterium, is a frequent cause of gastrointestinal food-borne illness in humans throughout the world. Illness with C. jejuni ranges from mild to severe diarrheal disease. This article focuses on Campylobacter virulence determinants and their potential role in the development of C. jejuni-mediated enteritis. A model is presented that diagrams the interactions of C. jejuni with the intestinal epithelium. Additional work to identify and characterize C. jejuni virulence determinants is certain to provide novel insights into the diversity of strategies employed by bacterial pathogens to cause disease.