Role of the Campylobacter jejuni Cj1461 DNA Methyltransferase in Regulating Virulence Characteristics.

Mutation of the cj1461 predicted methyltransferase gene reduced the motility of Campylobacter jejuni 81-176. Electron microscopy revealed that the mutant strain had flagella but with aberrant structure. The {Delta}cj1461 mutant was sevenfold more adherent to but 50-fold less invasive of INT-407 human epithelial cells than the wild type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]