Genetic features of Campylobacter spp. for triggering human neuropathies (A Review)

Campylobacter is one of the bacterial species that causes food borne diseases and is one of the important causes of diarrhea in humans. Campylobacter enteritis is the most frequent infection observed before the development of Guillain-Barré and Miller-Fisher neuropathy syndromes. Molecular mimicry between LOS in the Campylobacter cell wall and gangliosides in peripheral nerves plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of these syndromes. Numerous genetic mechanisms responsible for these disorders have been described such as various lipooligosacharide-associated genes, variation in homopolymeric tracts, and mutations or glycosyltransferases with dissimilar acceptor specificities, resulting in the expression of different LOS structures which can lead to ganglioside mimicry.