Quantitative Proteomics of Intracellular <em>Campylobacter jejuni</em> Reveals Metabolic Reprogramming

<div><p><em>Campylobacter jejuni</em> is the major cause of bacterial food-borne illness in the USA and Europe. An important virulence attribute of this bacterial pathogen is its ability to enter and survive within host cells. Here we show through a quantitative proteomic analysis that upon entry into host cells, <em>C. jejuni</em> undergoes a significant metabolic downshift. Furthermore, our results indicate that intracellular <em>C. jejuni</em> reprograms its respiration, favoring the respiration of fumarate. These results explain the poor ability of <em>C. jejuni</em> obtained from infected cells to grow under standard laboratory conditions and provide the bases for the development of novel anti microbial strategies that would target relevant metabolic pathways.</p>