Campylobacter jejuni virulence factors: update on emerging issues and trends

Campylobacter jejuni is a very common cause of gastroenteritis, and is frequently transmitted to humans through contaminated food products or water. Importantly, C. jejuni infections have a range of short- and long-term sequelae such as irritable bowel syndrome and Guillain Barre syndrome. C. jejuni triggers disease by employing a range of molecular strategies which enable it to colonise the gut, invade the epithelium, persist intracellularly and avoid detection by the host immune response. The objective of this review is to explore and summarise recent advances in the understanding of the C. jejuni molecular factors involved in colonisation, invasion of cells, collective quorum sensing-mediated behaviours and persistence. Understanding the mechanisms that underpin the pathogenicity of C. jejuni will enable future development of effective preventative approaches and vaccines against this pathogen.