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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 7, 2014; 20(5): 1259-1267
Published online Feb 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i5.1259
Campylobacter concisus and inflammatory bowel disease
Li Zhang, Hoyul Lee, Michael C Grimm, Stephen M Riordan, Andrew S Day, Daniel A Lemberg
Li Zhang, Hoyul Lee, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
Michael C Grimm, St George and Sutherland Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
Stephen M Riordan, Gastrointestinal and Liver Unit, The Prince of Wales Hospital, Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
Andrew S Day, Daniel A Lemberg, Department of Gastroenterology, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia
Andrew S Day, Department of Pediatrics, University of Otago, Christchurch, North Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
Andrew S Day, Daniel A Lemberg, School of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia
Author contributions: Zhang L wrote the review and identified the motifs; Lee H analyzed genes and proteins in putative prophages; Grimm MC, Riordan SM, Day AS and Lemberg DA provided critical feedback and helped in editing the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Li Zhang, MBBS, PhD, Senior Lecturer (Medical Microbiology and Immunology), School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, High St, Kensington, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. l.zhang@unsw.edu.au
Telephone: +61-1-93852042 Fax: +61-2-93851483
Received: September 27, 2013
Revised: November 7, 2013
Accepted: December 12, 2013
Published online: February 7, 2014
Abstract

Investigation of the possible role of Campylobacter concisus (C. concisus) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an emerging research area. Despite the association found between C. concisus and IBD, it has been difficult to explain how C. concisus, a bacterium that is commonly present in the human oral cavity, may contribute to the development of enteric diseases. The evidence presented in this review shows that some C. concisus strains in the oral cavity acquired zonula occludens toxin (zot) gene from a virus (prophage) and that C. concisus Zot shares conserved motifs with both Vibrio cholerae Zot receptor binding domain and human zonulin receptor binding domain. Both Vibrio cholerae Zot and human zonulin are known to increase intestinal permeability by affecting the tight junctions. Increased intestinal permeability is a feature of IBD. Based on these data, we propose that a primary barrier function defect caused by C. concisus Zot is a mechanism by which zot-positive C. concisus strains may trigger the onset and relapse of IBD.

Keywords: Campylobacter concisus, Inflammatory bowel disease, Zonula occludens toxin, Tight junctions, Intestinal permeability

Core tip:Campylobacter concisus (C. concisus) is an oral bacterium that was previously shown to be associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Evidence presented in this review shows that some strains of C. concisus acquired zonula occludens toxin (zot) gene from a virus (prophage), suggesting that a primary barrier function defect caused by C. concisus Zot is a mechanism by which zot-positive C. concisus strains may trigger the onset and relapse of IBD.