Molecular analysis and characterization of a urease gene operon from Campylobacter sputorum biovar paraureolyticus

Abstract

When recombinant plasmid DNA from a genomic DNA library and inverse PCR products of Campylobacter sputorum biovar paraureolyticus LMG17591 strain were analyzed, an approximate 6.5-kb pair region, encoding a urease gene operon, was identified. Within the operon, seven closely spaced and putative open reading frames for ureG, ureH(D), ureA, ureB, ureC, ureE, and ureF were detected in order. A possible overlap was detected between ureG and ureH(D), ureH(D) and ureA, and ureE and ureF. In addition, two putative promoter structures, probable ribosome-binding sites and a putative ρ-independent transcriptional terminator structure were identified. The urease gene operon transcription in the cells was confirmed by the reverse transcription-PCR analysis. A neighbor-joining tree constructed based on the nucleotide sequence information of urease genes showed that C. sputorum biovar paraureolyticus formed a cluster with Arcobacter butzleri, urease-positive thermophilic Campylobacter and some Helicobacter spp., separating those from the other urease-producing bacteria, suggesting a commonly shared ancestry among these organisms.

Genomic Investigation into Strain Heterogeneity and Pathogenic Potential of the Emerging Gastrointestinal Pathogen Campylobacter ureolyticus

“…Additionally, the urease operon was also presented within this group (Table S2); however it is important to note that C. sputorum biovar. paraureolyticus and subset of C. lari UPTC (urease positive thermophilic Campylobacter ) also contain this operon [57], [58]. As the whole genomes of these species are currently unavailable, they were not included in the comparison analysis.…”