Quantification of serine protease HtrA molecules secreted by the foodborne pathogen Campylobacter jejuni

摘要

BackgroundCampylobacter jejuni is a major food-borne pathogen and a worldwide health threat. Utilizing different virulence factors, C. jejuni invades the host’s intestinal epithelial cell layer. One important factor in this process is the serine protease HtrA, which is secreted into the extracellular space, and helps the bacteria to transmigrate across the gut epithelium by cleaving various cell–cell adhesion proteins. The aim of the present study is to quantify the amount of HtrA molecules secreted per bacterial cell in liquid culture and during infection.