The transducer-like protein Tlp12 of Campylobacter jejuni is involved in glutamate and pyruvate chemotaxis

Background Campylobacter jejuni is one of the most common bacterial causes of food-borne enteritis worldwide. Chemotaxis in C. jejuni is known to be critical for the successful colonization of the host and key for the adaptation of the microbial species to different host environments. In C. jejuni, chemotaxis is regulated by a complex interplay of 13 or even more different chemoreceptors, also known as transducer-like proteins (Tlps). Recently, a novel chemoreceptor gene, tlp12, was described and found to be present in 29.5% of the investigated C. jejuni strains.