Detection Of Bacteria Belonging to the Genus Campylobacter By Targeting Cytolethal Distending Toxin

Abstract

Multiplex PCR primers that can amplify the cdt genes of C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. fetus in a bacterial species-specific manner were prepared. Multiplex PCR with the primers was assessed using Campylobacter bacteria, other cdt gene-positive bacteria, and representative bacteria responsible for enteric infection. As a result, the present inventors' multiplex PCR using cdtB amplification primers was proven to enable simultaneous detection of different Campylobacter bacteria with high specificity. The methods of the present invention can identify Campylobacter at the bacterial species level in a single manipulation even when domestic animals or humans are infected with different bacterial species of Campylobacter.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods of detecting Campylobacter bacteria in a sample by targeting the cytolethal distending toxin of Campylobacter bacteria.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cultivation test is commonly used to identify bacterial species of Campylobacter bacteria. However, the test requires complex and substantial effort, because some bacterial species are difficult to identify based on their biochemical properties alone. Also, the bacteria are microaerophilic and some bacterial species should be cultured at different temperatures. The cultivation test for Campylobacter bacteria usually takes a long time, seven to ten days, including isolation and identification.

To date, Campylobacter jejuni (hereinafter abbreviated as “C. jejuni”) and Campylobacter coli (hereinafter abbreviated as “C. coli”) account for about 94% and 4% of Campylobacter bacteria isolated from diarrhea patients, respectively. Thus, the two bacterial species comprise the majority of Campylobacter bacteria. Accordingly, in most cases, test for Campylobacter bacteria in clinical practice only covers C. jejuni and C. coli which are specified as food poisoning bacteria. Furthermore, selection media commonly used in the test are those developed for mainly C. jejuni and C. coli, and in general, the culture is carried out at 42° C. Therefore, it is hard to say that the test covers Campylobacter fetus (hereinafter abbreviated as “C. fetus”) which has different temperature-sensitive property from C. jejuni and C. coli or other Campylobacter bacteria. Meanwhile, a mass outbreak of food poisoning caused by C. fetus occurred in Osaka in 2005. Infection with C. fetus causes not only gastroenteritis such as diarrhea but also other severe symptoms such as sepsis and meningitis in human. Furthermore, infection with C. fetus can result in infertility, miscarriage, or the like in animals such as cattle. It is thus important to improve the test system for Campylobacter bacteria including C. fetus.

It is difficult to rapidly identify bacterial species of Campylobacter bacteria based on their biochemical properties, and some of Campylobacter species often cannot be distinguished based on their biochemical properties because of their close resemblance. In particular, C. jejuni and C. coli are problematic because they are distinguished based on the presence of hippuricase activity, and when the enzyme activity is low, C. jejuni is falsely identified as C. coli. For this reason, PCR methods for detecting the presence of the hippuricase gene have been used in actual tests. In recent years, 16S rRNA gene analysis is frequently used as a method for identifying bacterial species at the gene level. However, C. jejuni and C. coli are highly homologous to each other, and thus often cannot be distinguished from each other by the 16S rRNA gene analysis.

To solve the above-described problems, the present inventors focused and conducted academic research on cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) of Campylobacter bacteria (Asakura M. et al., Microbial Pathogenesis 42 (2007) 174-183; Yamasaki S. et al., Toxin Reviews, 25: 61-88, 2006), and developed a method for detecting Campylobacter bacteria using the cytolethal distending toxin genes (cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC) (WO 2005/054472). However, there is an increasing trend in both the Campylobacter infection rate and the number of patients, and thus development of simpler and more rapid methods for identifying Campylobacter bacteria is much expected (“Food poisoning outbreak for each causative agent”, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention was achieved in view of the circumstances described above. An objective of the present invention is to provide novel methods for detecting Campylobacter bacteria using their cdt genes.

The present inventors conducted dedicated studies to achieve the above objective. The present inventors prepared multiplex PCR primers capable of amplifying the cdt genes of C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. fetus in a bacterial species-specific manner. Multiplex PCR was assessed using Campylobacter bacteria including many clinical isolates, other cdt gene-positive bacteria, and representative bacteria that cause enteric infection. The present inventors also aimed to simultaneously detect multiple bacterial species of Campylobacter by multiplex PCR using cdtB amplification primers. The result demonstrated that the present inventors' multiplex PCR method using cdtB amplification primers was capable of simultaneously detecting multiple bacterial species of Campylobacter in a highly specific manner. Even when domestic animals or humans have mixed infection with multiple bacterial species of Campylobacter, the method of the present invention enables identification of Campylobacter bacteria at the bacterial species level in a single manipulation. Specifically, the present invention relates to methods for detecting Campylobacter bacteria by amplifying the cdt genes of Campylobacter bacteria, and more specifically provides the following:

[1] a method for detecting a Campylobacter bacterium in a test sample, which comprises the step of nucleic acid amplification reaction in the test sample using one or more of primer pairs that comprise two polynucleotides that can specifically bind to genomic DNA or mRNA of cdtB of the Campylobacter bacterium, wherein the primer pairs are:

(a) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtB of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region; and

(b) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtB of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 4, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region;

• [2] the method of [1], wherein the nucleic acid amplification reaction is carried out using primer pairs (a) and (b); and

(c) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtB of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 5 and 6, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region;

[3] the method of [1] or [2], which comprises, before or after the step of nucleic acid amplification reaction, an additional nucleic acid amplification reaction step using a common primer pair comprising two polynucleotides that can commonly bind to the genomic DNA or mRNA of any one of cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC of Campylobacter bacteria;

[4] the method of [3], wherein the common primer pair is any one of: a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 7 and 8; a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 9 and 10; a primer pair comprising a combination of two sequences selected from the four sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 11, 12, 13, and 14; a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 15 and 16; and a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 17 and 18;

[5] a kit for use in the method of [1], which comprises a manual and at least either:

(a) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtB of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region; or

(b) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtB of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 4, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region;

each of which comprises two polynucleotides that can specifically bind to the genomic DNA or mRNA of cdtB of the Campylobacter bacterium;

[6] the kit of [5], which further comprises:

(c) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtB of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 5 and 6, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region;

[7] a method for detecting a Campylobacter bacterium in a test sample, which comprises the step of nucleic acid amplification reaction in the test sample using a primer pair comprising two polynucleotides that can specifically bind to genomic DNA or mRNA of cdtA of a Campylobacter bacterium, wherein the primer pair is:

(a) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtA of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 19 and 20, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region;

[8] The method of [7], wherein the nucleic acid amplification reaction is carried out using primer pair (a), and

(b) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtA of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 21 and 22, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region; and

(c) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtA of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 23 and 24, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region;

[9] a kit for use in the method of [7], which comprises a manual and a primer pair comprising two polynucleotides that can specifically bind to the genomic DNA or mRNA of cdtA of the Campylobacter bacterium, wherein the primer pair is:

(a) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtA of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 19 and 20, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region;

[10] the kit of [9], which further comprises:

(b) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtA of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 21 and 22, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region; and

(c) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtA of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 23 and 24, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region;

• [11] a method for detecting a Campylobacter bacterium in a test sample, which comprises the step of nucleic acid amplification reaction in the test sample using a primer pair comprising two polynucleotides that can specifically bind to genomic DNA or mRNA of cdtC of a Campylobacter bacterium, wherein the primer pair is:

(a) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtC of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 25 and 26, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region;

• [12] the method of [11], wherein the nucleic acid amplification reaction is carried out using primer pair (a), and

(b) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtC of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 27 and 28, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region; and

(c) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtC of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 29 and 30, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region;

[13] a kit for use in the method of [11], which comprises a manual and a primer pair comprising two polynucleotides that can specifically bind to the genomic DNA or mRNA of cdtC of the Campylobacter bacterium, wherein the primer pair is:

(a) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtC of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 25 and 26, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region;

[14] the kit of [13], which further comprises:

(b) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtC of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 27 and 28, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region; and

(c) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtC of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 29 and 30, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region;

[15] a method for detecting a Campylobacter bacterium in a test sample, which comprises the step of nucleic acid amplification reaction in a test sample using one or more of:

(a) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtC of a Campylobacter bacterium that is amplified by a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 38, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region;

(b) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtC of a Campylobacter bacterium that is amplified by a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 40 and 41, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region; and

(c) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtC of a Campylobacter bacterium that is amplified by a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 43 and 44, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region;

each of which comprises two polynucleotides that can specifically bind to a genomic DNA or mRNA of cdt of the Campylobacter bacterium;

[16] the method of [15], wherein the nucleic acid amplification reaction is achieved by using a quantitative PCR method or quantitative real-time PCR method;

[17] the method of [15] or [16], which further comprises any one or more of:

(i) the step of detecting the nucleic acid fragment amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 38 by using the probe of SEQ ID NO: 39;

(ii) the step of detecting the nucleic acid fragment amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 40 and 41 by using the probe of SEQ ID NO: 42; and

(iii) the step of detecting the nucleic acid fragment amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 43 and 44 by using the probe of SEQ ID NO: 45;

[18] a kit for use in the method of [15], which comprises a manual and at least one of:

(a) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdt of a Campylobacter bacterium that is amplified by the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 38, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region;

(b) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdt of a Campylobacter bacterium that is amplified by the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 40 and 41, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region; and

(c) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdt of a Campylobacter bacterium that is amplified by the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 43 and 44, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region;

each of which comprises two polynucleotides that can specifically bind to a genomic DNA or mRNA of cdt of the Campylobacter bacterium;

[19] the kit of [18], which further comprises at least one of the probes of SEQ ID NOs: 39, 42, and 45.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 presents photographs showing the result of multiplex PCR targeting the cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC genes. Multiplex PCR was carried out using a boiled template of each bacterial strain, and the PCR products were analyzed by 2% agarose gel electrophoresis: (a) cdtA gene; (b) cdtB gene; (c) cdtC gene. The PCR products and molecular weight marker were loaded at 5 μl per lane.

Lanes 1 and 16, 100-bp Ladder marker; lane 2, C. jejuni ATCC33560; lane 3, C. jejuni ATCC43432; lane 4, C. coli ATCC33559; lane 5, C. coli ATCC43478; lane 6, C. fetus ATCC27374; lane 7, C. fetus ATCC19438; lane 8, C. hyointestinalis ATCC35217; lane 9, C. lari ATCC43675; lane 10, C. upsaliensis ATCC43954; lane 11, C. helveticus ATCC51209; lane 12, H. hepaticus ATCC51449; lane 13, Haemophilus ducreyi (H. ducreyi) ATCC700724; lane 14, A. actinomycetemcomitans S01; lane 15, E. coli C600.

FIG. 2 presents a photograph showing the result of PCR using common primers targeting the cdtB gene of various Campylobacter bacteria. PCR was carried out with common primers targeting the cdtB gene using a boiled template for each bacterial strain. The PCR products were analyzed by 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. The PCR products and molecular weight marker were loaded at 5 ml per lane.

FIG. 3 presents a photograph showing the result of multiplex PCR targeting the cdtB gene using template DNAs from several bacterial species. Boiled templates of C. jejuni Col-008, C. coli Col-192, and C. fetus Col-187 were mixed in various combinations (1 μl each). Multiplex PCR targeting the cdtB gene was carried out using the mixtures. The PCR products were analyzed by 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. The PCR products and molecular weight marker were loaded at 5 μl per lane.

FIG. 4 presents a photograph showing the detection limit of multiplex PCR targeting the cdtB gene. Multiplex PCR targeting the cdtB gene was carried out using a boiled template of each bacterial strain so that in each PCR tube 10° colony forming units (cfu) become 10³ cfu. PCR products were analyzed by 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. The PCR products and molecular weight marker were loaded at 5 ml per lane.

FIG. 5-1 is a diagram showing the binding sites of primer comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 (primer name: Cj-CdtBU5) and primer comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 (primer name: Cj-CdtBR6) within the genomic DNA sequence of cdtB of C. jejuni 81-176. The binding site for each primer is underlined. Asterisk (*) indicates the stop codon. The amino acid sequences shown below the nucleotide sequence are those of CDT subunits encoded by in the order of cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC.

FIG. 5-2 is the continuation of FIG. 5-1.

FIG. 5-3 is the continuation of FIG. 5-2.

FIG. 6-1 presents a diagram showing the binding sites of primer comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 (primer name: Cf-CdtBU6) and primer comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 (primer name: Cf-CdtBR3) within the genomic DNA sequence of cdtB of C. fetus Col-187. The binding site for each primer is underlined and the primer name is shown. The underline that does not have a primer name indicates SD sequence. Asterisk (*) indicates the stop codon. The amino acid sequences shown below the nucleotide sequence are those of CDT subunits encoded by in the order of cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC. Arrow indicates the direction of translation for the encoded polypeptides.

FIG. 6-2 is the continuation of FIG. 6-1.

FIG. 7-1 is a diagram showing the binding sites of primer comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 (primer name: (Cc-CdtBU5) and primer comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6 (primer name: Cc-CdtBR5) within the genomic DNA sequence of cdtB of C. coli Col-243. The binding site for each primer is underlined and the primer name is shown. The underline that does not have a primer name indicates SD sequence. Asterisk (*) indicates the stop codon. The amino acid sequences shown below the nucleotide sequence are those of CDT subunits encoded by in the order of cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC. Arrow indicates the direction of translation for the encoded polypeptides.

FIG. 7-2 is the continuation of FIG. 7-1.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing a real-time PCR standard curve for C. jejuni.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing a real-time PCR standard curve for C. coli.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing a real-time PCR standard curve for C. fetus.

FIG. 11-1 is a diagram showing sequence comparison of the cdt gene between the C. jejuni 81-176 strain (SEQ ID NO: 31) and a cdt gene-deficient C. jejuni strain (Genbank Accession No. AY442600). Dot-and-dash line (-•-) indicates the cdtA gene region; solid line indicates the cdtB gene region; and dotted line indicates the cdtC gene region. (1) The cdtC 3′ end region in the mutant deficient cdt gene (AY442300) remains unknown because there is no report on the 3′ end. Dot “.” represents the same nucleotide as that of the 81-176 strain and bar “-” represents gap.

FIG. 11-2 is the continuation of FIG. 11-1.

FIG. 12-1 is a diagram showing comparison the cdtC gene between C. jejuni and a gene-deficient mutant strain of C. jejuni (Genbank Accession No. AY442300), and positions of the real-time PCR primers and probe.

FIG. 12-2 is the continuation of FIG. 12-1.

FIG. 12-3 is the continuation of FIG. 12-2.

FIG. 12-4 is the continuation of FIG. 12-3.

FIG. 13-1 is a diagram showing comparison of the cdt gene between the C. coli

Col-243 strain (SEQ ID NO: 33) and other C. coli strains, and positions of the real-time PCR primers and probe. Dot-and-dash line (-•-) indicates the cdtA gene region; solid line indicates the cdtB gene region; and dotted line indicates the cdtC gene region. Dot “.” represents the same nucleotide as that of the Col-243 strain and bar “-” represents gap.

FIG. 13-2 is the continuation of FIG. 13-1.

FIG. 13-3 is the continuation of FIG. 13-2.

FIG. 13-4 is the continuation of FIG. 13-3.

FIG. 13-5 is the continuation of FIG. 13-4.

FIG. 13-6 is the continuation of FIG. 13-5.

FIG. 13-7 is the continuation of FIG. 13-6.

FIG. 13-8 is the continuation of FIG. 13-7.

FIG. 13-9 is the continuation of FIG. 13-8.

FIG. 13-10 is the continuation of FIG. 13-9.

FIG. 13-11 is the continuation of FIG. 13-10.

FIG. 13-12 is the continuation of FIG. 13-11.

FIG. 13-13 is the continuation of FIG. 13-12.

FIG. 13-14 is the continuation of FIG. 13-13.

FIG. 14-1 is a diagram showing sequence comparison of the cdt gene between the C. fetus Col-187 strain (SEQ ID NO: 32) and C. fetus C90 strain derived from Thailand. Dot-and-dash line (-•-) indicates the cdtA gene region; solid line indicates the cdtB gene region; and dotted line indicates the cdtC gene region. Dot “.” represents the same nucleotide as that of the Col-187cdt strain and bar “-” represents gap.

FIG. 14-2 is the continuation of FIG. 14-1.

FIG. 14-3 is the continuation of FIG. 14-2.

FIG. 15-1 is a diagram showing comparison of the cdtC gene between the C. fetus and C. fetus C90 strain derived from Thailand, and positions of the real-time PCR primers and probe.

FIG. 15-2 is the continuation of FIG. 15-1.

FIG. 15-3 is the continuation of FIG. 15-2.

FIG. 15-4 is the continuation of FIG. 15-3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Herein, the phrase “cytolethal distending toxins” (CDTs or CLDTs) refers to toxic factors belonging to the group of proteinaceous type A-B holotoxins. The cytolethal distending toxin has a subunit structure consisting of three subunits A, B, and C. It is believed that subunit B is the active site unit of the toxin and subunits A and B are involved in cell adhesion. When the toxin acts on cells, it causes cell deformation such as cell swelling, and finally leads to cell death. Cell deformation such as cell swelling is also observed when heat-labile enterotoxin (LT), which is produced by toxigenic E. coli, or the like is experimentally allowed to act on cells. When the toxin is inactivated, however, the cells recover and survive. In contrast, cells do not recover but instead are killed, even when CDT is inactivated.

The term “polynucleotide” as used herein refers to a polymer made up of a number of bases or base pairs consisting of ribonucleotides or deoxyribonucleotides. Polynucleotides include RNAs, single-stranded DNAs as well as double-stranded DNAs. Polynucleotides herein may include both unmodified, naturally-occurring polynucleotides and modified polynucleotides. Tritylated bases and special bases, such as inosine, are examples of modified bases.

The term “polypeptide” as used herein refers to a polymer made up of a number of amino acids. Therefore, oligopeptides and proteins are also included within the concept of polypeptides. Polypeptides include both unmodified, naturally-occurring polypeptides and modified polypeptides. Examples of polypeptide modifications include acetylation; acylation; ADP-ribosylation; amidation; covalent binding with flavin; covalent binding with heme moieties; covalent binding with nucleotides or nucleotide derivatives; covalent binding with lipids or lipid derivatives; covalent binding with phosphatidylinositols; cross-linkage; cyclization; disulfide bond formation; demethylation; covalent cross linkage formation; cystine formation pyroglutamate formation; formylation; g-carboxylation; glycosylation; GPI-anchor formation; hydroxylation; iodination; methylation; myristoylation; oxidation; proteolytic treatment; phosphorylation; prenylation; racemization; selenoylation; sulfation; transfer RNA-mediated amino acid addition to a protein such as arginylation; ubiquitination; and the like.

The term “mutation” as used herein refers to changes to the amino acids of an amino acid sequence, or changes to the bases in a nucleotide sequence (that is, substitution, deletion, addition, or insertion of one or more amino acids or nucleotides). Therefore, the term “mutant” as used herein refers to amino acid sequences wherein one or more amino acids are changed, or nucleotide sequences wherein one or more nucleotides are changed. Nucleotide sequence changes in the mutant may change the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide encoded by the standard polynucleotide, or not. The mutant may be one that exists in nature, such as an allelic mutant, or one not yet identified in nature. The mutant may be conservatively altered, wherein substituted amino acids retain structural or chemical characteristics similar to those of the original amino acid. Rarely, mutants may be substituted non-conservatively. Computer programs known in the art, such as DNA STAR software, can be used to decide which or how many amino acid residues to substitute, insert, or delete without inhibiting biological or immunological activities.

“Deletion” is a change to either an amino acid sequence or nucleotide sequence, wherein one or more amino acid residues or nucleotide residues are missing as compared with the amino acid sequence of a naturally occurring cytolethal distending toxin polypeptide, or a nucleotide sequence encoding the same.

“Insertion” or “addition” is a change to either an amino acid sequence or nucleotide sequence, wherein one or more amino acid residues or nucleotide residues are added as compared with the amino acid sequence of a naturally-occurring cytolethal distending toxin polypeptide, or a nucleotide sequence encoding the same.

“Substitution” is a change to either an amino acid sequence or nucleotide sequence, wherein one or more amino acid residues or nucleotide residues are changed to different amino acid residues or nucleotide residues, as compared to the amino acid sequence of a naturally-occurring cytolethal distending toxin polypeptide, or a nucleotide sequence encoding the same.

The term “hybridize” as used herein refers to a process wherein a nucleic acid chain binds to its complementary chain through the formation of base pairs.

Herein, the term “detection” means both qualitative and quantitative measurements. “Quantitation” also refers to semiquantitative measurement.

<Detection of the Presence of Campylobacter Bacteria in Test Samples>

The present invention provides methods for detecting Campylobacter bacteria in test samples. Detection of the presence of Campylobacter bacteria in test samples is useful for various purposes such as diagnosis of Campylobacter infection, rapid test of food contaminated with Campylobacter bacteria, validation in each step of food processing, and identification of bacteria responsible for food poisoning outbreak.

The first embodiment of the detection methods of the present invention includes methods for detecting Campylobacter bacteria in a test sample, which comprise the step of carrying out the reaction of amplifying nucleic acids in the test sample using either or both of:

“(a) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdtB which is amplified by a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region” and

“(b) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdtB which is amplified by a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 4, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region”,

both of which comprise two polynucleotides that can specifically bind to genomic DNA or mRNA of Campylobacter bacterial cdtB.

The above-described methods are methods that detect bacteria by amplifying a region specific to genomic DNA or mRNA of cdtB for C. jejuni or C. fetus. As for C. jejuni, the primers used in the above-described methods representatively include the “primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2 (primers used in the Examples herein: Cj-CdtBU5 and Cj-CdtBR6)”, but are not limited to the sequences. Any other sequences can be used as long as the primer pairs comprise two polynucleotides that can specifically bind to genomic DNA or mRNA of C. jejuni cdtB, and can amplify a region that is amplified from genomic DNA of C. jejuni cdtB as a template using a “primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2”, or the corresponding mRNA region. Herein, “specifically bind” means excluding non-specific binding from the “binding”. FIG. 5 shows the site where the “primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2” binds to genomic DNA of cdtB in the C. jejuni 81-176 strain (SEQ ID NO: 31). In addition, a 714-bp amplified product is obtained by amplifying genomic DNA of the C. jejuni ATCC33560 strain (DDBJ Accession No. AB274783) or C. jejuni ATCC43432 strain (DDBJ Accession No. AB274784) using the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2.

Alternatively, as for C. fetus, the primers representatively include the “primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 4 (primers used in the Examples herein: Cf-CdtBU6 and Cf-CdtBR3)”, but are not limited to the sequences. Any other sequences can be used as long as the primer pairs comprise two polynucleotides that can specifically bind to genomic DNA or mRNA of C. fetus cdtB, and can amplify a region that is amplified from genomic DNA of C. fetus cdtB as a template using the “primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 4”, or the corresponding mRNA region. FIG. 6 shows the binding site where the “primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 4” binds to genomic DNA of cdtB in the C. fetus Col-187 strain (SEQ ID NO: 32). Meanwhile, a 553-bp amplified product is obtained by amplifying genomic DNA of the C. fetus ATCC27374 strain (DDBJ Accession No. AB274802) or ATCC19438 strain (DDBJ Accession No. AB274803) using the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 4.

In the methods of the present invention, a single round of nucleic acid amplification reaction can be performed using the following primer pairs individually or in combination:

“(a) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdtB which is amplified by the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region” and “(b) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdtB which is amplified by the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 4, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region”. The PCR method in which a number of PCR primers are used in a single reaction such as in the Examples herein is called “multiplex PCR”. Thus, different bacterial species can be identified by electrophoresing the PCR products and determining the band size. The present invention provides methods for detecting Campylobacter bacteria based on nucleic acid amplification methods, representatively including the above-described multiplex PCR, using primers and combinations thereof which are preferably used for amplifying different nucleic acid regions. In the present invention, there is no limitation on the type of nucleic acid amplification method, as long as it yields amplification products of interest. The PCR method is a specific example of nucleic acid amplification method preferably used in the present invention. The methods of the present invention may be conducted as a quantitation method by using a real-time PCR method or such.

In the methods of the present invention, a single round of nucleic acid amplification reaction can be performed using “(c) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdtB which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 5 and 6, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region” (which are primers capable of amplifying a specific region of genomic DNA of C. coli cdtB), in combination with the above-described “(a) primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdtB which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region” and/or the above-described “(b) primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdtB which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 4, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region”. Specifically, the present invention provides methods that can simultaneously detect the three bacterial species of Campylobacter, C. jejuni, C. fetus, and C. coli in a test sample. The present inventors demonstrated that the three bacterial species of Campylobacter, C. jejuni, C. fetus, and C. coli could be detected at a time by nucleic acid amplification reaction that simultaneously uses the above-described three types of primers. As demonstrated in the Examples herein, the methods of the present invention have very high specificity because they achieve the detection of Campylobacter bacteria of interest without erroneous detection of other bacterial species of Campylobacter. FIG. 7 shows the site where the “primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 5 and 6 (primers used in the Examples herein: Cc-CdtBU5 and Cc-CdtBR5)” binds to genomic DNA of cdtB in the C. coli Col-243 strain (SEQ ID NO: 33).

The methods of the present invention comprise subsequent to the above-described step of nucleic acid amplification reaction using primers specific to C. jejuni, C. fetus, or C. coli, the step of “detecting the presence of Campylobacter bacteria based on the presence or molecular weight of fragments amplified from the genomic DNA or mRNA of the Campylobacter bacterial cdtB” or the step of “quantifying the fragments amplified from genomic DNA or mRNA of the Campylobacter bacterial cdtB”.

Alternatively, the methods of the present invention may comprise the “step of nucleic acid amplification reaction using a common primer pair comprising two polynucleotides that can commonly bind to the genomic DNA or mRNA of any one of cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC of Campylobacter bacteria” before or after the step of nucleic acid amplification reaction using primers specific to C. jejuni, C. fetus, or C. coli. The above-described “common primer pair comprising two polynucleotides that can commonly bind to the genomic DNA or mRNA of any one of cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC of Campylobacter bacteria” refers to a primer pair capable of amplifying the genomic DNA or mRNA encoding any one of cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC in all of the bacterial species C. jejuni, C. fetus, and C. coli. Specific examples of such primers include the primer pair used in the Examples herein, which comprises the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 7 and 8 (common cdtB primer pair used in the Examples herein: C-CdtBcom1 and C-CdtBcom2). The common primer pairs that are preferably used include not only the above-described primer pair but also the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 9 (SEQ ID NO: 7 in WO 2005/054472) and 10 (SEQ ID NO: 8 in WO 2005/054472) (common cdtB primer pair), primer pairs comprising a combination of two of the four sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 11 (SEQ ID NO: 47 in WO 2005/054472), 12 (SEQ ID NO: 48 in WO 2005/054472), 13 (SEQ ID NO: 49 in WO 2005/054472), and 14 (SEQ ID NO: 50 in WO 2005/054472) (common cdtB primer pairs), primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 15 (SEQ ID NO: 64 in WO 2005/054472) and 16 (SEQ ID NO: 65 in WO 2005/054472) (common cdtA primer pair), and primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 17 (SEQ ID NO: 66 in WO 2005/054472) and 18 (SEQ ID NO: 67 in WO 2005/054472) (common cdtC primer pair). WO 2005/054472 describes in detail the fact that the above-described common primer pairs were capable of amplifying genomic DNA encoding any one of cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC in all of the bacteria C. jejuni, C. fetus, and C. coli. The improved sensitivity for detection of Campylobacter bacteria can be expected when the nucleic acid amplification reaction using primers specific to C. jejuni, C. fetus, C. coli is combined with the nucleic acid amplification reaction using the above-described “common primer pairs that comprise two polynucleotides capable of commonly binding to genomic DNAs or mRNAs of cdtA, cdtB or cdtC of Campylobacter bacteria”. As described above, the above primer pairs are common primer pairs capable of commonly amplifying genomic DNAs or mRNAs encoding the cytolethal distending toxin of at least the three bacterial species: C. coli, C. jejuni, and C. fetus. The above-described common primer pairs are expected to be capable of amplifying genomic DNAs or mRNAs encoding the cytolethal distending toxin of not only the above-described three Campylobacter bacteria but also other Campylobacter bacteria. Likewise, other primer pairs that can amplify the same genomic DNA regions or corresponding mRNA regions as those amplified with those primer pairs are assumed to be capable of commonly amplifying the genomic regions or corresponding mRNA regions of the three bacterial species described above and other Campylobacter bacteria.

The second embodiment of the methods of the present invention includes methods for detecting Campylobacter bacteria in a test sample, which comprise the step of nucleic acid amplification reaction in the test sample using “(a) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdtA, which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 19 and 20, or mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region”, which comprises two polynucleotides that can specifically bind to the genomic DNA or mRNA of Campylobacter bacterial cdtA. The above-described methods amplify a portion of genomic DNA or mRNA of C. coli cdtA using a primer pair that specifically binds to the genomic DNA or mRNA, and thus enable detection of C. coli based on the presence or molecular weight of the amplified fragments. Specific examples of the above-described primers include the “primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 19 and 20 (primers used in the Examples herein: Cc-CdtAU1 and Cc-CdtAR1)”. The above-described methods of the second embodiment enable simultaneous detection of C. coli, and either or both of C. jejuni and C. fetus by simultaneously using the above-described primer pair (a) in combination with “(b) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdtA, which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 21 and 22 (primers used in the Examples herein: Cj-CdtAU2 and Cj-CdtAR2) or mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region”, and/or “(c) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdtA, which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 23 and 24 (primers used in the Examples herein: Cf-CdtAU1 and Cf-CdtAR1) or mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region”, both of which comprise two polynucleotides that can specifically bind to the genomic DNA or mRNA of Campylobacter bacterial cdtA.

The methods of the present invention comprise subsequent to the above-described step of nucleic acid amplification reaction using primers specific to C. jejuni, C. fetus, or C. coli, the “step of assessing the presence of Campylobacter bacteria based on the presence or molecular weight of fragments amplified from genomic DNA or mRNA of Campylobacter bacterial cdtA” or the “step of quantifying the amount of fragments amplified from genomic DNA or mRNA of Campylobacter bacterial cdtA”. The amplified fragments of the present invention may be DNA or RNA.

The third embodiment of the methods of the present invention includes methods for detecting Campylobacter bacteria in a test sample, which comprise the step of nucleic acid amplification reaction in the test sample using “(a) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdtC, which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 25 and 26 (primers used in the Examples herein: Cc-CdtCU1 and Cc-CdtCR1) or mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region”, which comprises two polynucleotides that can specifically bind to the genomic DNA or mRNA of Campylobacter bacterial cdtC. The above-described methods amplify a portion of genomic DNA or mRNA of C. coli cdtC using a primer pair that specifically binds to the genomic DNA or mRNA, and thus enable detection of C. coli based on the presence or molecular weight of the amplified fragments. The above-described methods of the third embodiment enable simultaneous detection of C. coli, and either or both of C. jejuni and C. fetus by simultaneously using the above-described primer pair (a) in combination with “(b) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdtC, which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 27 and 28 (primers used in the Examples herein: Cj-CdtCU1 and Cj-CdtCR2) or mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region”, and/or “(c) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdtC, which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 29 and 30 (primers used in the Examples herein: Cf-CdtCU2 and Cf-CdtCR1) or mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region”, both of which comprises two polynucleotides that can specifically bind to the genomic DNA or mRNA of Campylobacter bacterial cdtC.

The methods of the present invention comprise subsequent to the above-described step of nucleic acid amplification reaction using primers specific to C. jejuni, C. fetus, and C. coli, the “step of assessing the presence of Campylobacter bacteria based on the presence or molecular weight of fragments amplified from genomic DNA or mRNA of cdtC of the Campylobacter bacteria” or the “step of quantifying the amount of fragments amplified from genomic DNA or mRNA of cdtC of the Campylobacter bacteria”.

The fourth embodiment of the methods of the present invention includes methods of detecting Campylobacter bacteria in a test sample, which comprise the step of nucleic acid amplification reaction in the test sample using any one or more of;

(a) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdt that is amplified by a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 38, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region;

(b) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdt that is amplified by a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 40 and 41, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region; and

(c) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdt that is amplified by a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 43 and 44, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region;

each of which comprises two polynucleotides that can specifically bind to a genomic DNA or mRNA of cdt of the Campylobacter bacterium.

The above-described methods are methods for detecting bacteria in which a portion of genomic DNA or mRNA of cdtC is amplified using primer pairs that specifically bind to genomic DNA or mRNA of cdtC for each of C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. fetus, and the bacteria are detected based on the presence or molecular weight of the amplified fragments.

For C. jejuni, the primers to be used in the above-described methods first include the “primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 38 (primers used in the Examples herein: Cj cdtRTU2 and Cj cdtRTR2)”, but are not limited to these sequences. Any other sequences can be used as long as the primer pairs comprise two polynucleotides that can specifically bind to genomic DNA or mRNA of C. jejuni cdtC, which is capable of amplifying a region amplified from genomic DNA of C. jejuni cdtC as a template using the “primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 38”, or the corresponding mRNA region. FIG. 12 shows the site where the “primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 38” binds to the genomic DNA of cdtC for a total of 11 C. jejuni strains. Furthermore, an amplification product is also obtained from a cdt gene (accession No. AY442300) defective C. jejuni mutant by using the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 38.

As for C. coli, the primers to be used in the above-described methods first include the “primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 40 and 41 (primers used in the Examples herein: Cc cdtRTU5 and Cc cdtRTR5)”, but are not limited to the sequences. Any other sequences can be used as long as the primer pairs comprise two polynucleotides that can specifically bind to genomic DNA or mRNA of C. coli cdtC as a template using the “primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 40 and 41”, or amplify the corresponding mRNA region. FIG. 13 shows the site where the “primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 40 and 41” binds to the genomic DNA of cdtC for a total of 18 C. coli strains.

Furthermore, as for C. fetus, the primers to be used in the above-described methods first include the “primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 43 and 44 (primers used in the Examples herein: Cf cdtRTU1 and Cf cdtRTR1)”, but are not limited to these sequences. Any other sequences can be used as long as the primer pairs comprise two polynucleotides that can specifically bind to genomic DNA or mRNA of C. fetus cdtC as a template using the “primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 43 and 44, or amplify the corresponding mRNA region. FIG. 15 shows the site where the “primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 43 and 44” binds to the genomic DNA of cdtC for a total of 12 C. fetus strains. Furthermore, with the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 43 and 44, an amplification product for the cdt gene is also obtained from the C. fetus C90 strain isolated in Thailand.

In the methods of the present invention, it is possible to use the following three types of primer pairs separately or combine and use them simultaneously in single round nucleic acid amplification reaction:

“(a) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdt that is amplified by a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 38, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region”;

“(b) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdt that is amplified by a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 40 and 41, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region”; and

(c) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdt that is amplified by the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 43 and 44, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region. The present invention provides methods for detecting Campylobacter bacteria based on nucleic acid amplification methods, representatively including multiplex PCR using primers which are preferably used for amplifying different nucleic acid regions and combinations thereof. There is no limitation on the type of nucleic acid amplification method of the present invention as long as it yields amplification products of interest. The PCR method is an example of preferred nucleic acid amplification method in the present invention.

The methods of the present invention comprise subsequent to the above-described step of nucleic acid amplification reaction using primers specific to C. jejuni, C. fetus, or C. coli, the “step of assessing the presence of Campylobacter bacteria based on the presence or molecular weight of fragments amplified from genomic DNA or mRNA of Campylobacter bacterial cdtC” or the “step of quantifying the amount of amplified fragments from genomic DNA or mRNA of Campylobacter bacterial cdtC”.

It is possible to use real-time PCR or such in the step of quantifying the amount of amplified fragments. Real-time PCR is a method for monitoring and analyzing the amount of fragments amplified by PCR in real time. Real-time PCR is superior in rapidity and quantitative performance since there is no need for electrophoresis after amplification of nucleic acid fragments. An example of quantitation of bacterial cells by the real-time PCR method of the present invention is as follows. First, PCR is carried out using DNAs prepared by serially diluting a sample containing a known amount of bacterial cells as a standard, and then a standard curve is established by plotting the initial DNA amount on the vertical axis and the cycle number (threshold; Ct value) that gives a predetermined amount of amplification product within the range of exponential amplification on the horizontal axis. Then, the Ct value of test samples is determined by PCR under the same conditions. The bacterial cells are quantified by calculating the amount of DNA in the test samples from the standard curve.

Typically, real-time PCR is monitored using fluorescent reagents, and carried out in a device integrating a thermal cycler and a spectrophotofluorometer. Fluorescence monitoring methods include known methods, such as use of intercalators and the TaqMan probe method, but are not limited thereto.

In the present invention, detection of nucleic acid fragments of the present invention amplified by real-time PCR can be achieved using, for example, any one or more of:

“(i) the probe of SEQ ID NO: 39 (probe used in the Examples herein: Cj RTP2) which can be used to detect nucleic acid fragments amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 38”,

“(ii) the probe of SEQ ID NO: 42 (probe used in the Examples herein: Cc RTP5) which can be used to detect nucleic acid fragments amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 40 and 41”, and

“(iii) the probe of SEQ ID NO: 45 (probe used in the Examples herein: Cf RTP1) which can be used to detect nucleic acid fragments amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 43 and 44”.

It is preferred that these probes are appropriately conjugated with a detectable label. Such labeled components include fluorescent substances, radioisotopes, luminescent substances, enzymatically active substances, and magnetically-observable substances. The most preferable label in the present invention includes fluorescent labels.

When used in real-time PCR detection, probes are modified with fluorescent substance and quenching substance at the 5′ and 3′ ends, respectively. In the extension step of PCR, the probe that hybridizes to the DNA region of the PCR template is degraded by the 5′-3′ exonuclease activity of DNA polymerase resulting in fluorescence emission, which is blocked by the quencher. Thus, the amplified fragment can be quantified based on the fluorescence emission. In the present invention, fluorescent substances to be used for the modification include, for example, FAM, TAMRA, and Orange560, but are not limited to these examples. Meanwhile, the quenching substances include, for example, Black Hole Quencher (BHQ), but are not limited thereto. As shown in the Examples, different amplified nucleic acid fragments can be detected simultaneously by attaching a different fluorescent label to each probe.

The methods of the present invention enable simple and rapid detection of the presence of individual bacterial species of C. coli, C. jejuni and C. fetus in various biological samples from humans or animals (for example, feces, rectal swab specimens, etc.) or food products. The methods of the present invention can be conducted by using polynucleotide preparation methods (boil method or the like) known to those skilled in the art to prepare polynucleotides from biological samples, food products, or such, in which Campylobacter bacteria are suspected to be present, and using the resulting polynucleotides as a test sample of the present invention.

<Kits>

The present invention provides kits to be used in the detection methods of the present invention. The kits comprise manuals in addition to the primer pairs of the present invention. The kits may further comprise other components, for example, fluorescent probes, intercalators, agents for preparing polynucleotides, and positive or negative primer pairs.

The first embodiment of the kits of the present invention includes kits comprising at least one of:

“(a) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdtB which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region” and “(b) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdtB which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 4, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region”. The above-described primer pairs (a) and (b) allow amplification of regions specific (characteristic regions) to the genomic DNA or mRNA of C. jejuni and C. fetus cdtB, respectively.

As for C. jejuni, the above-described primers representatively include “primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2 (primers used in the Examples herein: Cj-CdtBU5 and Cj-CdtBR6)”, but are not limited to the sequences. Any other polynucleotides having a different sequence can be used as long as they serve as a primer pair capable of amplifying a region that is amplified from the genomic DNA or mRNA of C. jejuni cdtB as a template by using a “primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2”, or the corresponding mRNA region.

Likewise, as for C. fetus, the above-described primers representatively include “primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 4 (primers used in the Examples herein: Cf-CdtBU6 and Cf-CdtBR3)”, but are not limited to the sequences. Any other polynucleotides having a different sequence can be used as long as they serves as a primer pair capable of amplifying a region that is amplified from genomic DNA or mRNA of C. fetus cdtB as a template by using a “primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 4” or the corresponding mRNA region.

A “polynucleotide having a different sequence” that constitutes such primer pairs of the present invention is a polynucleotide of at least 15, 20, or more nucleotides, which is complementary to the genomic DNA or mRNA of C. jejuni or C. fetus cdtB, for example, a polynucleotide of 15 to 100 nucleotides, 20 to 100 nucleotides, 15 to 35 nucleotides, or 20 to 35 nucleotides. Herein, “complementary strand” means one strand against the other in a double-stranded nucleic acid consisting of A:T (U in the case of RNA) and G:C base pairs. Furthermore, “complementary” means that sequences are not necessarily fully complementary in a region of at least 15 consecutive nucleotides but have at least 70%, preferably at least 80%, more preferably 90%, still more preferably 95% or higher nucleotide sequence homology. Algorithms for determining homology include not only those described herein but also algorithms that are routinely used by those skilled in the art for determining homology. The above-described “polynucleotides having a different sequence that constitute such primer pairs of the present invention” hybridize to cdtB genomic DNA but not to DNAs encoding other polypeptides under hybridization conditions, preferably under stringent conditions. Furthermore, the primer pairs of the present invention do not hybridize under ordinary hybridization conditions, preferably under stringent conditions, to common regions of cdtB genomic DNA shared by various Campylobacter bacteria. The above-described “polynucleotides having a different sequence that constitute such primer pairs of the present invention” are polynucleotides of at least 15 nucleotides, or 20 or more nucleotides, which comprise a nucleotide sequence with an addition, deletion, substitution, and/or insertion of one or more nucleotides (for example, 1 to 10 nucleotides, or 1 to 5 nucleotides, preferably 1 to 4 nucleotides, more preferably 1 to 3 nucleotides, and most preferably 1 or 2 nucleotides) in the nucleotide sequence, for example, of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, and 4.

The above-described “polynucleotides having a different sequence that constitute such primer pairs of the present invention” can be appropriately designed by those skilled in the art based on the polynucleotide sequences of SEQ IDs shown above and/or known genomic DNA sequences of cdtB, and can be prepared by synthesis. Furthermore, whether polynucleotides prepared as described above are capable of amplifying the same genomic DNA region as the original primer pair without mutation can be simply assessed by analyzing the amplified products resulting from nucleic acid amplification reaction using the prepared mutant primers.

The kits of the present invention may comprise primer pairs capable of amplifying regions specific to genomic DNA or mRNA of C. coli cdtB, in addition to the above-described primer pair (a) which is capable of amplifying a region specific to genomic DNA or mRNA of C. jejuni cdtB, and the above-described primer pair capable of amplifying a region specific to genomic DNA or mRNA of C. fetus cdtB. Primer pairs that are individually specific to each of the three species C. jejuni, C. fetus, and C. coli are all comprised in the kits of the present invention, allowing simultaneous detection of mixed infection with the above-described Campylobacter bacteria by multiplex PCR or the like. The above-described primer pairs capable of amplifying regions specific to genomic DNA of C. coli cdtB include a “primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 5 and 6 (primers used in the Examples herein: Cc-CdtBU5 and Cc-CdtBR5)”, and other primer pairs capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdtB, which is amplified with the “primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 5 and 6”, or mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region.

The second embodiment of the kits of the present invention include kits comprising a primer pair of the present invention which is “(a) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdtA, which can be amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 19 and 20 (primers used in the Examples herein: Cc-CdtAU1 and Cc-CdtAR1), or mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region. The above-described primer pair (a) specifically binds to C. coli cdtA. The kits of the second embodiment may comprise, in addition to primer pair (a), “(b) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdtA, which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 21 and 22 (primers used in the Examples herein: Cj-CdtAU2 and Cj-CdtAR2), or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region”, and/or “(c) a primer pair capable of amplifying genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdtA, which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 23 and 24 (primers used in the Examples herein: Cf-CdtAU1 and Cf-CdtAR1), or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region”. It is thought that the kits comprising primer pairs (b) and/or (c) as well as primer pair (a) can simultaneously detect mixed infection with the above-described Campylobacter bacteria when used in multiplex PCR or the like.

The third embodiment of the kits of the present invention include kits comprising a primer pair of the present invention which is “(a) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdtC, which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 25 and 26 (primers used in the Examples herein: Cc-CdtCU1 and Cc-CdtCR1), or mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region. The above-described primer pair (a) specifically binds to C. coli cdtC. The kits of the third embodiment may comprise, in addition to primer pair (a), “(b) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdtC, which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 27 and 28 (primers used in the Examples herein: Cj-CdtCU1 and Cj-CdtCR2), or mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region”, and/or “(c) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdtC, which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 29 and 30 (primers used in the Examples herein: Cf-CdtCU2 and Cf-CdtCR1), or mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region”. It is thought that the kits comprising primer pairs (b) and/or (c) as well as primer pair (a) can simultaneously detect mixed infection with the above-described Campylobacter bacteria when used in multiplex PCR or the like.

The fourth embodiment of the kits of the present invention includes kits comprising as primer pair of the present invention at least one of:

“(a) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdt that is amplified by a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 38, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region (primers used in the Examples herein: Cj cdtRTU2 and Cj cdtRTR2)”;

“(b) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdt that is amplified by a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 40 and 41, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region (primers used in the Examples herein: Cc cdtRTU5 and Cc cdtRTR5)”, and

“(c) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of Campylobacter bacterial cdt that is amplified by a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 43 and 44, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region (primers used in the Examples: Cf cdtRTU1 and Cf cdtRTR1)”. Such kits comprising the above-described primer pairs of (a), (b), and/or (c) are expected to enable simultaneous detection of mixed infection with Campylobacter bacteria by multiplex PCR or the like.

The above-described kits may further comprise any one or more of:

“(i) the probe of SEQ ID NO: 39 (probe used in the Examples herein: Cj RTP2) which can be used to detect nucleic acid fragments amplified with the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 38”,

“(ii) the probe of SEQ ID NO: 42 (probe used in the Examples herein: Cc RTP5) which can be used to detect nucleic acid fragments amplified with the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 40 and 41”, and

“(iii) the probe of SEQ ID NO: 45 (probe used in the Examples herein: Cf RTP1) which can be used to detect nucleic acid fragments amplified with the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 43 and 44”.

The kits of the present invention may further comprise any one or more of the above-described common primer pairs.

The type of nucleic acid amplification reaction using the kits of the present invention is not particularly limited, as long as it yields amplification products of interest. It is possible to select any type of reaction from known reactions of nucleic acid amplification, for example, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method (including RT-PCR method), ICAN method, LAMP method, SDA method, LCR method, and NASBA method. The preferred method is a PCR method.

The kits of the present invention may comprise not only the above-described primer pairs and manual but also other materials. Other materials include, for example, positive primers, negative primers, agents for preparing polynucleotide, and fluorescently-labeled probes, but are not limited thereto. The positive primers can be appropriately designed and prepared by those skilled in the art based on known sequences of Campylobacter bacteria. Such known sequences of Campylobacter bacteria are readily available in databases. For example, the 16S rRNA sequences of the C. jejuni ATCC 33560 strain, C. coli ATCC 33559 strain, and C. fetus ATCC 27374 strain are available under the accession NOs: M59298 (SEQ ID NO: 34), M59073 (SEQ ID NO: 35), and M65012 (SEQ ID NO: 36), respectively.

All prior-art documents cited herein are incorporated herein by reference.

EXAMPLES

Hereinbelow, the present invention is specifically described with reference to the Examples; however, it should not be construed as being limited thereto.

[1. Materials and Methods]

(1-1 Bacterial Strains)

Bacteria used herein were: Campylobacter bacteria from ATCC, patients, and animals, cdt gene-positive non-Campylobacter bacteria, and other bacteria responsible for enteric infection (Table 1). The C. jejuni Col-008 strain, C. coli Col-243 strain, C. fetus (Col-187 strain) were used as positive control while the E. coli C600 strain was used as negative control in PCR.

TABLE 1
(Campylobacter bacteria, Cdt-positive non-Campylobacter
bacteria, and other bacteria responsible for enteric infection
used to assess the multiplex PCR targeting the cdtB gene)
Species	Strain	Origin	cdt gene
C. jejuni	Co1-008	Clinical	+
C. jejuni	Co1-119	Clinical	+
C. jejuni	Co1-126	Clinical	+
C. jejuni	Co2-037	Clinical	+
C. jejuni	Co2-127	Clinical	+
C. jejuni	Co2-128	Clinical	+
C. jejuni	Co2-130	Clinical	+
C. jejuni	Co2-132	Clinical	+
C. jejuni	Co2-146	Clinical	+
C. jejuni	Co2-150	Clinical	+
C. jejuni	Co2-193	Clinical	+
C. jejuni	Co2-200	Clinical	+
C. jejuni	Co2-214	Clinical	+
C. jejuni	Co2-217	Clinical	+
C. jejuni	Co3-007	Clinical	+
C. jejuni	Co3-008	Clinical	+
C. jejuni	Co3-011	Clinical	+
C. jejuni	Co3-012	Clinical	+
C. jejuni	Co3-024	Clinical	+
C. jejuni	Co3-036	Clinical	+
C. jejuni	Co3-072	Clinical	+
C. jejuni	Co3-078	Clinical	+
C. jejuni	Co3-082	Clinical	+
C. jejuni	81-176	Clinical	+
C. jejuni	B01	Bovine	+
C. jejuni	B86	Bovine	+
C. jejuni	10114a	Bovine	+
C. jejuni	10114c	Bovine	+
C. jejuni	8214c	Bovine	+
C. jejuni	8215a	Bovine	+
C. jejuni	8414c	Bovine	+
C. jejuni	9914b	Bovine	+
C. jejuni	33560	ATCC	+
C. jejuni	43432	ATCC	+
C. coli	Co1-017	Clinical	+
C. coli	Co1-071	Clinical	+
C. coli	Co1-106	clinical	+
C. coli	Co1-124	clinical	+
C. coli	Co1-192	clinical	+
C. coli	Co1-130	clinical	+
C. coli	Co1-194	clinical	+
C. coli	Co1-245	clinical	+
C. coli	Co1-247	clinical	+
C. coli	Co2-060	clinical	+
C. coli	Co2-082	clinical	+
C. coli	Co2-147	clinical	+
C. coli	Co2-173	clinical	+
C. coli	Co2-215	clinical	+
C. coli	Co2-218	clinical	+
C. coli	Co1-243	clinical	+
C. coli	Co3-134	clinical	+
C. coli	33559	ATCC	+
C. coli	43478	ATCC	+
C. fetus	Co1-099	clinical	+
C. fetus	Co1-187	clinical	+
C. fetus	7914c	Bovine	+
C. fetus	7915a	Bovine	+
C. fetus	7915b	Bovine	+
C. fetus	8013a	Bovine	+
C. fetus	8013b	Bovine	+
C. fetus	8013c	Bovine	+
C. fetus	8614c	Bovine	+
C. fetus	8813a	Bovine	+
C. fetus	8813c	Bovine	+
C. fetus	9512a	Bovine	+
C. fetus	9813a	Bovine	+
C. fetus	2-1	Bovine	+
C. fetus	3-1	Bovine	+
C. fetus	7	Bovine	+
C. fetus	23-1	Bovine	+
C. fetus	86c	Bovine	+
C. fetus	27374	ATCC	+
C. fetus	19438	ATCC	+
C. lari	43675	ATCC	+
C. hyointestinalis	35217	ATCC	+
C. upsaliensis	43954	ATCC	+
C. heiveticus	51209	ATCC	+
H. hepaticus	51449	ATCC	+
H. ducreyi	700724	ATCC	+
A. actinomycetemcomitans	S01	Clinical	+
S. dysenteriae	155 AQ	Clinical	+
S. dysenteriae	SD-102	Clinical	+
S. dysenteriae	153 AQ	Clinical	+
S. dysenteriae	SD-104	Clinical	+
S. dysenteriae	SD-107	Clinical	+
S. dysenteriae	SD-112	Clinical	+
S. sonnei	7 AQ	Clinical	+
E. coli (cdtI)	VS-1	Clinical	+
E. coli (cdtI)	NT3363	Clinical	+
E. coli (cdtI)	GB1371	Clinical	+
E. coli (cdtI)	P3	Clinical	+
E. coli (cdtI)	b52	Animal	+
E. coli (cdtII)	P101	Clinical	+
E. coli (cdtII)	S9	Swine	+
E. coli (cdtIII)	S45	Swine	+
E. coli (cdtIII)	P183	Clinical	+
E. coli (cdtIII)	P194	Clinical	+
E. coli (cdtIII)	B10	Bovine	+
E. coli (cdtIII)	b1	Bovine	+
E. coli (cdtIV)	AQ25179	Clinical	+
E. coli (cdtIV)	AQ13328	Clinical	+
E. coli (cdtIV)	P132	Clinical	+
E. coli (cdtIV)	P140	Clinical	+
E. coli (cdtIV)	b95	Bivine	+
E. coli (cdtV)	AQ11333	Clinical	+
E. coli (cdtV)	P150	Clinical	+
E. coli (cdtV)	P336	Clinical	+
E. coli (cdtV)	b1	Bovine	+
E. coli (cdtV)	B102	Bovine	+
Salmonella spp.	ST4, 311	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	ST1, 312	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	ST3, 307	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM101	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM103	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM104	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM105	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM106	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM107	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM109	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM110	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM111	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM112	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM113	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM114	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM116	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM117	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM118	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM119	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM121	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM122	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM123	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM125	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM126	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM127	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM128	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM129	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM130	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM132	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM134	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM135	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM136	Clinical	−
Salmonella spp.	TM137	Clinical	−
V. cholerae (O1)	N16961	Clinical	−
V. cholerae (O1)	569B	Clinical	−
V. cholerae (O1)	VC406	Clinical	−
V. cholerae (non-O1/non-O139)	C-l	Clinical	−
V. cholerae (non-O1/non-O139)	C-2	Clinical	−
V. cholerae (non-O1/non-O139)	C-3	Clinical	−
V. cholerae (non-O1/non-O139)	C-4	Clinical	−
V. cholerae (non-O1/non-O139)	C-5	Clinical	−
V. cholerae (non-O1/non-O139)	C-6	Clinical	−
V. cholerae (non-O1/non-O139)	C-7	Clinical	−
V. cholerae (non-O1/non-O139)	C-8	Clinical	−
V. cholerae (non-O1/non-O139)	C-9	Clinical	−
V. cholerae (non-O1/non-O139)	C-10	Clinical	−
V. cholerae (O1)	A5	Clinical	−
V. cholerae (O1)	A10	Clinical	−
V. cholerae (O1)	A15	Clinical	−
V. cholerae (O1)	B5	Clinical	−
V. cholerae (O1)	B10	Clinical	−
V. cholerae (O1)	C5	Clinical	−
V. cholerae (O1)	C9	Clinical	−
V. cholerae (O1)	D5	Clinical	−
V. cholerae (O1)	E5	Clinical	−
V. cholerae (O1)	E10	Clinical	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP1	Shrimp	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP2	Shrimp	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP3	Shrimp	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP4	Shrimp	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP5	Shrimp	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP6	Shrimp	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP7	Shrimp	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP8	Shrimp	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP9	Shrimp	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP10	Shrimp	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP11	Shrimp	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP12	Shrimp	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP13	Shrimp	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP14	Shrimp	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP15	Shrimp	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP16	Shrimp	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP18	Shrimp	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP19	Shrimp	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP20	Shrimp	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP21	Shrimp	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP22	Shrimp	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP23	Shrimp	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP24	Shrimp	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP25	Shrimp	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP26	Shrimp	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP28	Shrimp	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP30	Shrimp	−
V. parahaemolyticus	VP31	Shrimp	−
Y. enterocolitica	Ye09	Clinical	−
S. dysenteriae	SD1	Clinical	−
S. dysenteriae	SD2	Clinical	−
S. dysenteriae	SD3	Clinical	−
S. dysenteriae	SD5	Clinical	−
S. dysenteriae	H14 174	Clinical	−
S. dysenteriae	BCM519	Clinical	−
S. dysenteriae	HU29	Clinical	−
S. sonnei	SS2	Clinical	−
S. sonnei	SS3	Clinical	−
S. flexineri	SF3	Clinical	−
S. flexineri	SF4	Clinical	−
S. flexineri	SF5	Clinical	−
S. flexineri	SF6	Clinical	−
S. flexineri	SF7	Clinical	−
(1-2 Media, culture conditions, reagents, and enzymes)

Campylobacter bacteria, E. coli, and Shigella bacteria were cultured by the following procedures. Campylobacter bacteria were cultured using horse blood agar plates containing CM271 BLOOD AGAR BASE No. 2 (Oxoid, Basingstoke, UK) [7.5 g of Proteose peptone, 1.25 g of Liver digest, 2.5 g of Yeast extract, 2.5 g of NaCl, 6.0 g of Agar/500 ml of distilled water (DW), pH 7.4±0.2 at 25° C.] supplemented with 5% sterile defibrinated horse blood (Nippon Bio-Supp. Center, Tokyo), and a medium containing Campylobacter selective supplement (Skirrow) (OXOID) (5 mg of Vancomycin, 2.5 mg of Trimethoprim Lactate, 1,250 i.u. of Polymyxin B/500 ml) (hereinafter abbreviated as “Skirrow medium”). Campylobacter bacteria were cultured at 37° C. for two to four days under a microaerophilic condition (10% CO₂, 5% O₂, and 85% N₂) using LOW TEMPERATURE O₂/CO₂ INCUBATER MODEL-9200 (WAKENYAKU CO, LTD., Tokyo). E. coli was cultured at 37° C. for 16 to 20 hours in liquid LB-Lenox medium (Difco Laboratories, Detroit, Mich., USA) (5.0 g of Bacto tryptone, 2.5 g of Bacto yeast extract, 2.5 g of NaCl/500 ml of DW) or LB-Lenox agar plates (Difco Laboratories) (5.0 g of Bacto tryptone, 2.5 g of Bacto yeast extract, 2.5 g of NaCl, 7.5 g of Agar/500 ml of DW).

Helicobacter hepaticas (H. hepaticas) was cultured at 37° C. for 12 days under a microaerophilic condition (10% CO₂, 5% O₂, and 85% N₂) using sheep blood agar plates containing Brucella Agar (Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, N.J., USA) (5 g of Proteose peptone, 5 g of Pancreatic digest of casein, 0.5 g of Dextrose, 1 g of Yeast extract, 2.5 g of NaCl, 6.0 g of Agar/500 ml of DW, pH 7.4±0.2 at 25° C.) supplemented with sterile defibrinated sheep blood (Nippon Bio-Supp. Center) at a final concentration of 5%.

Haemophilus ducreyi (H. ducreyi) was cultured at 37° C. for seven days under a microaerophilic condition (10% CO₂, 5% O₂, and 85% N₂) using a medium prepared by the following procedure. Solution A [25 g of Heart infusion broth (Difco Laboratories), 15 g of Agar/500 ml of DW, pH 7.4±0.2 at 25° C.] and Solution B [10 g of Hemoglobin (Becton Dickinson)/500 ml of DW] were sterilized by autoclaving at 121° C. for 15 minutes, while Solution C [100 ml of Fetal bovine serum (Invitrogen), 10 ml of IsoVitaleX (Becton Dickinson)] was filtrated. Solutions A, B, and C were mixed together to prepare the medium.

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (A. actinomycetemcomitans) was cultured at 37° C. for two days under an atmosphere of 90% air and 10% CO₂ in Trypticace soy agar (Becton Dickinson) (2.5 g of Papaic digest of soybean meal, 7.5 g Pancreatic digest of casein, 2.5 g of NaCl, 7.5 g of Agar/500 ml of DW, pH 7.3±0.2 at 25° C.) containing 0.6% Yeast extract (Difco Laboratories).

Salmonella (Salmonella spp.) was cultured while shaking at 37° C. for 16 to 20 hours in Trypticace soy broth (Becton Dickinson) (1.5 g of Papaic digest of soybean meal, 8.5 g of Pancreatic digest of casein, 2.5 g of NaCl, 1.25 g of K₂HPO₄, 1.25 g of Dextrose/500 ml of DW, pH 7.3±0.2 at 25° C.).

Meanwhile, Yersinia enterocolitica was cultured while shaking at 30° C. for two days in Trypticace soy broth (Becton Dickinson).

Vibrio chorelae was cultured in LB-Lenox Broth (Difco Laboratories) at 37° C. for 24 hours.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus) was cultured at 37° C. for 24 hours in alkaline peptone broth “Nissui” (Nissui, Tokyo) (5 g of Peptone, 5 g of NaCl/500 ml of DW, pH 8.8±0.2 at 25° C.) containing 3% NaCl.

(1-3 PCR, Agarose Gel Electrophoresis, and Nucleotide Sequence Analysis)

Template DNAs for PCR were prepared by the boil method. Specifically, colonies were scraped from plates, and added to 200 μl of TE. The suspension was heated for ten minutes, and centrifuged at 12,800×g for ten minutes (Himac CT13R, HITACHI; hereinafter the same centrifuge was used unless otherwise specified). The resulting supernatants were used as template DNA for PCR.

All PCR experiments were carried out using GeneAmp PCR System 2400 (PerkinElmer; Wellesley, Mass., USA) or GeneAmp PCR System 9700 (PerkinElmer). PCR primers and conditions used are listed in Table 2. Specifically, 5 μl each of degenerated PCR primers GNW and LPF-D (10 μmol/μl), 40 ng of prepared genomic DNA, 4 μl of 2.5 mM dNTP, 5 μl of 10× Ex Taq Buffer, and 0.25 μl of Takara Ex Taq (5 U/μl) were mixed together, and sterile DW was added to become 50 μl. The prepared mixture was used in PCR. The PCR products were electrophoresed in 1% agarose gel. Agarose gel electrophoresis was carried out using a MUPID (ADVANCE, Tokyo) at 100 V in 1×TAE Buffer [40 mM Tris-acetate (pH 8.5), 1 mM EDTA]. After electrophoresis, the gel was stained with 1.0 μg/ml ethidium bromide (Sigma) for 15 minutes. After destaining with DW, the PCR products were photographed under ultraviolet light (260 nm) using Gel Documentation System Gel Doc 2000 (Bio-Rad; Hercules, Calif., USA).

Nucleotide sequence analysis was conducted by the following procedure. 100 ng of plasmid DNA was combined with 1 μl (3.2 μmol) each of the nucleotide sequencing primers listed in Table 4, 4 μl of Big Dye terminator, and 2 μl of 5× sequence buffer. The volume was adjusted to 20 μl with DW. PCR was carried out at 96° C. for five minutes, followed by 25 cycles of 96° C. for 30 seconds, 50° C. for 15 seconds, and 60° C. for four minutes. The PCR products were purified with CENTRI SPIN 20 Spin Columns (Princeton Separations, Adelphia, N.J., USA), dried under reduced pressure using TOMY CENTRIFUGAL CONCENTRATOR CC-105 (TOMY SEIKO CO. LTD., Tokyo), and then dissolved in 20 ml of Template Suppression Reagent (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif., USA). After boiling for three minutes, the samples were rapidly cooled on ice. The nucleotide sequences were determined using ABI PRISM 310 Genetic Analyzer (Applied Biosystems). The resulting nucleotide sequences were analyzed with DNASIS (HitachiSoft, Tokyo) and Lasergene software (DNAstar, WI, USA). Furthermore, homology search was carried out using BLAST (DDBJ, http://www.ddbj.nig.ac.jp/search/blast-j.html).

TABLE 2
(Multiplex PCR primers for the cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC genes of C. jejuni,
C. coli, and C. fetus, common primer for the cdtB gene, and PCR conditions)
			PCR condition
Name	Sequence (5′-3′)	Target	Denaturing	Annealing	Extention	Amplicion (bp)
C-CdtBcom1	ACTTGGAATTTGCAAGGC	Cj-/Cc-/Cf-cdtB	94° C., 30 s	50° C., 30 s	77° C., 30 s	717/723/712
	(SEQ ID NO: 7)
C-CdtBcom2	TCTAAAATTTACHGGAAAATG
	(SEQ ID NO: 8)
Cj-CdtAU2	AGGACTTGAACCTACTTTTC	CjcdtA	94° C., 30 s	55° C., 30 s	72° C., 30 s	631
	(SEQ ID NO: 21)
Cj-CdtAR2	AGGTGGAGTAGTTAAAAACC
	(SEQ ID NO: 22)
Cj-CdtBU5	ATCTTTTAACCTTGCTTTTGC	CjcdtB	94° C., 30 s	56° C., 30 s	72° C., 30 s	714
	(SEQ ID NO: 1)
Cj-CdtBR6	GCAAGCATTAAAATCGCAGC
	(SEQ ID NO: 2)
Cj-CdtCU1	TTTAGCCTTTGCAACTCCTA	CjcdtC	94° C., 30 s	55° C., 30 s	72° C., 30 s	524
	(SEQ ID NO: 27)
Cj-CdtCR2	AAGGGGTAGCAGCTGTTAA
	(SEQ ID NO: 28)
Cc-CdtAU1	ATTGCCAAGGCTAAAATCTC	CccdtA	94° C., 30 s	55° C., 30 s	72° C., 30 s	329
	(SEQ ID NO: 19)
Cc-CdtAR1	GATAAAGTCTCCAAAACTGC
	(SEQ ID NO: 20)
Cc-CdtBU5	TTTAATGTATTATTTGCCGC	CccdtB	94° C., 30 s	56° C., 30 s	72° C., 30 s	413
	(SEQ ID NO: 5)
Cc-CdtBR5	TCATTGCCTATGCGTATG
	(SEQ ID NO: 6)
Cc-CdtCU1	TAGGGATATGCACGCAAAAG	CccdtC	94° C., 30 s	55° C., 30 s	72° C., 30 s	313
	(SEQ ID NO: 25)
Cc-CdtCR1	GCTTAATACAGTTACGATAG
	(SEQ ID NO: 26)
Cf-CdtAU1	AACGACAAATGTAAGCACTC	CfcdtA	94° C., 30 s	55° C., 30 s	72° C., 30 s	487
	(SEQ ID NO: 23)
Cf-CdtAR1	TATTATGCAAGTCGTGCGA
	(SEQ ID NO: 24)
Cf-CdtBU6	GGCTTTGCAAAACCAGAAG	CfcdtB	94° C., 30 s	56° C., 30 s	72° C., 30 s	553
	(SEQ ID NO: 3)
Cf-CdtBR3	CAAGAGTTCCTCTTAAACTC
	(SEQ ID NO: 4)
Cf-CdtCU2	AAGCATAAGTTTTGCAAACG	CfcdtC	94° C., 30 s	55° C., 30 s	72° C., 30 s	397
	(SEQ ID NO: 29)
Cf-CdtCR1	GTTTGGATTTCAAATGTTCC
	(SEQ ID NO: 30)
H: A, C, or T
Cj, Co, and Cf are abbreviations for C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. fetus, respectively.

Example 1

Multiplex PCR for cdt Genes

For positive control, bacterial species-specific fragments of about 630 bp, 330 bp, and 490 by were amplified by multiplex PCR for the cdtA gene in C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. fetus, respectively. As in the case of positive control, bacterial species-specific fragments of about 710 bp, 410 bp, and 550 b were amplified by multiplex PCR for the cdtB gene in C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. fetus, respectively. Furthermore, as in the case of positive control, bacterial species-specific fragments of about 500 bp, 300 bp, and 400 by were amplified by multiplex PCR for the cdtC gene in C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. fetus, respectively (FIG. 1). Meanwhile, none of the cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC genes was amplified in other cdt gene-positive Campylobacter bacteria such as C. hyointestinalis C. lari, C. upsaliensis, and C. helveticus; H. hepaticus, Haemophilus ducreyi (H. ducreyi), A. actinomycetemcomitans, and Shigella spp.; and E. coli having five different types of cdt genes (I, II, III, IV, and V), while the cdt genes of the three bacterial species C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. fetus were specifically amplified (FIG. 1 and Table 3). Likewise, no amplified band was detected in other representative bacterial species responsible for enteric infection, including Salmonella spp., Yersinia enterocolitica, and Vibrio spp. (Table 3).

TABLE 3
(Results of multiplex PCR and PCR by common primers in cdt gene-positive bacteria and
other bacteria responsible for enteric infection isolated from patients and animals)
	C. jejuni	C. coli	C. fetus	Common
	Multiplex PCR	Multiplex PCR	Multiplex PCR	PCR
Species	Origin (n*)	cdtA	cdtB	cdtC	cdtA	cdtB	cdtC	cdtA	cdtB	cdtC	cdtB
C. jejuni	Clinical (24)	24	24	24	—	—	—	—	—	—	24
C. jejuni	Animal (8)	8	8	8	—	—	—	—	—	—	8
C. jejuni	ATCC33560 (1)	1	1	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	1
C. jejuni	ATCC43432 (1)	1	1	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	1
C. coli	Clinical (17)	—	—	—	17	17	17	—	—	—	17
C. coli	ATCC33559 (1)	—	—	—	1	1	1	—	—	—	1
C. coli	ATCC43478 (1)	—	—	—	1	1	1	—	—	—	1
C. fetus	Clinical (2)	—	—	—	—	—	—	2	2	2	2
C. fetus	Animal (16)	—	—	—	—	—	—	16	16	6	16
C. fetus subsp. fetus	ATCC27374 (1)	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	1	1
C. fetus subsp. venerealis	ATCC19438 (1)	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	1	1
C. lari	ATCC43675 (1)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
C. hyointestinalis	ATCC35217 (1)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
C. helveticus	ATCC51209 (1)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
C. upsaliensis	ATCC43954 (1)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
H. hepticus	ATCC51209 (1)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
H. ducreyi	ATCC700724 (1)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
A. actinomycetemcomitans	Clinical (1)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Shigella spp.	Clinical (21)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
E. coli (cdtI)	Clinical and	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	Aminal (5)
E. coli (cdtII)	Clinical and	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	Aminal (2)
E. coli (cdtIII)	Clinical and	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	Aminal (5)
E. coli (cdtIV)	Clinical and	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	Aminal (5)
E. coli (cdtV)	Clinical and	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	Aminal (5)
Salmonella spp.	Clinical (33)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Y. enterocolitica	Clinical (1)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
V. cholerae	Clinical (23)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
V. parahaemolyticus	Shrinp (28)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Asterisk (*) represents the number of strains examined.

Example 2

Detection of Campylobacter Bacteria Using Common Primers for the cdtB Gene

Common primers targeting the cdtB gene, which has the highest homology between the bacterial species, were designed and used to assess whether Campylobacter bacteria can be detected by a single round PCR targeting the cdt gene. PCR using the common primers yielded bands of about 720 by that are specific to the cdtB genes of C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. fetus. Furthermore, a fragment of about 720 by was also amplified in other Campylobacter bacteria, specifically C. hyointestinalis, C. lari, C. upsaliensis, and C. helveticus, in addition to C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. fetus (FIG. 2). The nucleotide sequences of the obtained PCR products of Campylobacter bacteria other than C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. fetus were determined, and the result showed that each of them has a gene highly homologous to the cdtB gene of C. jejuni. Meanwhile, no fragment was amplified by the common primers in non-Campylobacter cdt gene-positive bacteria and other bacteria responsible for enteric infection, and even in H. hepaticus which was found to have cdt genes with the highest homology to those of Campylobacter bacteria (FIG. 2 and Table 3). The result described above suggests that the cdtB genes of Campylobacter bacteria contain a region conserved across the bacterial species. Thus, at least seven species of Campylobacter bacteria were detectable in a single round PCR targeting the cdtB gene of Campylobacter bacteria.

Example 3

Simultaneous Detection of Different Campylobacter Bacteria by Multiplex PCR Targeting the cdtB Gene

Under the assumption of mixed infection, it was assessed whether multiplex PCR targeting the cdtB gene can simultaneously detect different bacterial species of Campylobacter. In the previous Example, the multiplex PCR targeting the cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC genes was demonstrated to be specific to each of them. Since the cdtB gene was found to be most highly conserved among these subunit genes, multiplex PCR targeting the cdtB gene was used in the subsequent experiments.

Multiplex PCR targeting the cdtB gene was carried out by mixing two or three of the genomic DNA of C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. fetus. As shown in the result of FIG. 3, specific bands for each species could be amplified not only when C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. fetus were present separately but also when two or three of them are present in mixture. Accordingly, multiplex PCR targeting the cdtB gene is expected to be applicable in tests for mixed infection.

Example 4

Detection Limit of Multiplex PCR Targeting the cdtB Gene of C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. fetus

The detection limit of multiplex PCR targeting the cdtB gene was evaluated using C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. fetus. The result showed that 10¹ colony forming units (cfu) of bacterial cells per PCR tube were required for detection of the amplified fragment specific to C. jejuni or C. coli. Meanwhile, 10² cfu of bacterial cells per PCR tube were required for detection of the amplified fragment specific to C. fetus (FIG. 4).

The sensitivity and specificity were proven to be improved by the primers of the present invention as compared to other primers designed previously (SEQ ID NOs: 11 to 16 in WO 2005/054472). The primer sets of the present invention were used in PCR with boiled templates of nine samples that had non-specific amplification when a previously designed primer set was used, and non-specific amplification was not observed in any of the samples. Furthermore, 116 fecal samples from healthy children were subjected to PCR using the primer sets of the present invention. Very weak non-specific amplification was observed in only one sample.

Example 5

Design of Primers and Probes Used for Detection of C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. fetus by Real-Time PCR

Primers and probes for C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. fetus were prepared based on a total of 11 strains including cdtB gene-deficient strains, a total of 18 strains including cdt gene-mutant strains, and a total of 12 strains including the cdt gene-mutant strains isolated in Thailand, respectively. The best combination was selected for each of the bacteria species by comparing the respective cdt gene sequences to specify the regions that allow detection of all bacterial strains in each of the bacteria species and to evaluate the specificity.

(1) C. jejuni

Comparison of a mutant deficient form of the C. jejuni cdt gene (AY442300) to the 81-176 strain cdt gene revealed that the mutant deficient form of the cdt gene is deficient in cdtA and the first half of cdtB as well as most of the midportion of cdtB, in addition to many nucleotide substitutions within the cdtB gene (FIG. 11). Thus, the present inventors focused on a relatively highly conserved region of the cdtC gene, and designed real-time PCR primers and probe within this region.

To design real-time PCR primers and probe, several cdtC genes including deficient forms were compared, and the region with the least mutations which can be used for the real-time PCR primers and probe is searched. Then, PCR was carried out using each primer set to select the most suitable primer set (FIG. 12).

Nucleotide Sequencing Primers

Cj cdtRTU2:
5′ GCAAAATCTTGTCAAGATGATCTAAAAG 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 37)
Cj cdtRTR2:
5′ TCCAAAACTAAAGAACGAATTTGCA 3′  (SEQ ID NO: 38)

Detection Probe

Cj RTP2:
(SEQ ID NO: 39)
5′ (FAM)-AAACTGTATTTTCTATAATGCCAACAACAACTTCAG-
(BHQ-1) 3′

BHQ: Black Hole Quencher (fluorescence quenching dye)

(2) C. coli

To design the real-time PCR primers and probe, several cdt genes of C. coli were compared, and the region with the least mutations which can be used for the real-time PCR primers and probe was searched. Then, PCR was carried out using each primer set to select the most suitable primer set (FIG. 13).

Nucleotide Sequencing Primers

Cc cdtRTU5:
5′ TTTAACCAATGGTGGCAATCAAT 3′   (SEQ ID NO: 40)
Cc cdtRTR5:
5′ ATTCTCCTAAACCAAAGCGATTTTC 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 41)

Detection Probe

Cc RTP5:
(SEQ ID NO: 42)
5′ (TAMRA)-CATGAGCACTTTTCCTGACTCTAGTATCGCCA-
(BHQ-2) 3′

(3) C. fetus

The cdt gene of several C. fetus strains was sequenced, and the result showed that the cdt gene of the C. fetus C90 strain isolated in Thailand was different from that of the strains in Japan. The gene sequences were compared between the two to search for highly conserved portions (FIG. 14).

To design the real-time PCR primers and probe, several cdt genes of C. fetus were compared, and the region with the least mutations which can be used for the real-time PCR primers and probe was searched. Then, PCR was carried out using each primer set to select the most suitable primer set (FIG. 15).

Nucleotide Sequencing Primers

Cf cdtRTU1:
5′ CTTTTCCTTTTGGATACGTGCAA 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 43)
Cf cdtRTR1:
5′ AAAAATCCGCTAGGAGCGATCTG 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 44)

Detection Probe

Cf RTP1:
(SEQ ID NO: 45)
(Orange560)-CAAGTAGCAGCCGACGTAAAAATGTGCCT-
(BHQ-1) 3′

Example 6

Detection and Detection Limit of C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. fetus by Real-Time PCR

Templates were prepared by the following procedure: bacterial suspensions were prepared for each species of C. jejuni (81-176 strain), C. coli (Col-243 strain), and C. fetus (Col-187 strain) at 1, 10, 10², 10³, 10⁴, or 10⁵ cfu/μl, and then treated by the boil method (boiling for 10 min, followed by centrifugation to obtain supernatants). Specifically, each PCR tube contained 1 to 10⁵ bacterial cells.

Real-time PCR was carried out by the following procedure: 1 ml each of the prepared templates was combined with 10 μl of TaqMan Master Mix (Applied Biosystems), 2 μl each of the above-described nucleotide sequencing primers (900 nM), and 1 ml each of the detection probes (250 nM). The total volume was adjusted to 20 ml with DW. PCR was carried out under the following conditions: heating at 95° C. for five minutes, followed by 40 cycles of 95° C. for 15 seconds and 60° C. for 60 seconds. The reaction mixtures were stored at 4° C. The detection was achieved using the Applied Biosystems 7500 Fast Real-Time PCR system (Applied Biosystems).

In the case of C. jejuni, at the concentration of 10⁵ cfu/tube, fluorescence emission started to increase at the 22nd cycle; at the concentration of 10³ cfu/tube, fluorescence emission started to increase at the 30th cycle; at the concentration of 10² cfu/tube, there was no significant fluorescence emission. The detection limit was 10³ cfu/tube (FIG. 8).

In the case of C. coli, at the concentration of 10⁵ cfu/tube, fluorescence emission started to increase at the 20th cycle; at the concentration of 10² cfu/tube, fluorescence emission started to increase at the 34th cycle. The detection limit was 10² cfu/tube (FIG. 9).

In the case of C. fetus, at the concentration of 10⁵ cfu/tube, fluorescence emission started to increase at the 21st cycle; at the concentration of 10² cfu/tube, fluorescence emission started to increase at the 35th cycle. The detection limit was 10² cfu/tube (FIG. 10).

Preferable results were obtained for the three bacterial species. Thus, the present invention was expected to provide sufficient performance for practical use.

Probes were each labeled with a fluorescent substance that has different fluorescence wavelength, and used to detect different bacterial species: FAM for C. jejuni; TAMRA for C. coli; and Orange560 for C. fetus. Thus, multiplex real-time PCR can be used to detect three bacterial species in a tube by using the Applied Biosystems 7500 Fast Real-Time PCR system which is capable of multi-wavelength fluorescence detection.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention provides novel methods for detecting Campylobacter bacteria and kits to be used in the detection methods. The methods of the present invention enable simple, rapid tests as compared to conventional methods. In particular, the methods of the present invention were demonstrated to be capable of identifying bacteria at the bacterial species level by carrying out multiplex PCR in the presence of different bacterial species of Campylobacter. As described above, Campylobacter bacteria are important from the viewpoint of public hygiene because they cause food poisoning. As a matter of fact, different bacterial species are often present together in infected patients or in the case of food contamination. Since the methods of the present invention can simultaneously detect bacteria without isolation of each species, they enable simple, rapid, and instantaneous identification of bacteria that cause food poisoning or the like. The methods of the present invention are very useful not only clinically but also in the process management of food production or such, factory hygiene management, or the like.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a Campylobacter bacterium in a test sample, which comprises the step of nucleic acid amplification reaction in the test sample using one or more of primer pairs that comprise two polynucleotides that can specifically bind to genomic DNA or mRNA of cdtB of the Campylobacter bacterium, wherein the primer pairs are: (a) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtB of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region; and(b) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtB of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 4, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid amplification reaction is carried out using primer pairs (a) and (b); and (c) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtB of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 5 and 6, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, which comprises, before or after the step of nucleic acid amplification reaction, an additional nucleic acid amplification reaction step using a common primer pair comprising two polynucleotides that can commonly bind to the genomic DNA or mRNA of any one of cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC of Campylobacter bacteria.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the common primer pair is any one of: a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 7 and 8; a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 9 and 10; a primer pair comprising a combination of two sequences selected from the four sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 11, 12, 13, and 14; a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 15 and 16; and a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 17 and 18.

5. A kit for use in the method of claim 1, which comprises a manual and at least either: (a) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtB of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region; or(b) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtB of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 4, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region;

6. The kit of claim 5, which further comprises: (c) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtB of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 5 and 6, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region.

7. A method for detecting a Campylobacter bacterium in a test sample, which comprises the step of nucleic acid amplification reaction in the test sample using a primer pair comprising two polynucleotides that can specifically bind to genomic DNA or mRNA of cdtA of a Campylobacter bacterium, wherein the primer pair is: (a) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtA of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 19 and 20, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the nucleic acid amplification reaction is carried out using primer pair (a), and (b) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtA of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 21 and 22, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region; and(c) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtA of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 23 and 24, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region.

9. A kit for use in the method of claim 7, which comprises a manual and a primer pair comprising two polynucleotides that can specifically bind to the genomic DNA or mRNA of cdtA of the Campylobacter bacterium, wherein the primer pair is: (a) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtA of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 19 and 20, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region.

10. The kit of claim 9, which further comprises: (b) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtA of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 21 and 22, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region; and(c) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtA of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 23 and 24, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region.

11. A method for detecting a Campylobacter bacterium in a test sample, which comprises the step of nucleic acid amplification reaction in the test sample using a primer pair comprising two polynucleotides that can specifically bind to genomic DNA or mRNA of cdtC of a Campylobacter bacterium, wherein the primer pair is: (a) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtC of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 25 and 26, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the nucleic acid amplification reaction is carried out using primer pair (a), and (b) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtC of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 27 and 28, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region; and(c) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtC of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 29 and 30, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region.

13. A kit for use in the method of claim 11, which comprises a manual and a primer pair comprising two polynucleotides that can specifically bind to the genomic DNA or mRNA of cdtC of the Campylobacter bacterium, wherein the primer pair is: (a) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtC of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 25 and 26, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region.

14. The kit of claim 13, which further comprises: (b) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtC of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 27 and 28, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region; and(c) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtC of the Campylobacter bacterium which is amplified with the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 29 and 30, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region.

15. A method for detecting a Campylobacter bacterium in a test sample, which comprises the step of nucleic acid amplification reaction in a test sample using one or more of: (a) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtC of a Campylobacter bacterium that is amplified by a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 38, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region;(b) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtC of a Campylobacter bacterium that is amplified by a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 40 and 41, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region; and(c) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdtC of a Campylobacter bacterium that is amplified by a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 43 and 44, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region;

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the nucleic acid amplification reaction is achieved by using a quantitative PCR method or quantitative real-time PCR method.

17. The method of claim 15 or 16, which further comprises any one or more of: (i) the step of detecting the nucleic acid fragment amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 38 by using the probe of SEQ ID NO: 39;(ii) the step of detecting the nucleic acid fragment amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 40 and 41 by using the probe of SEQ ID NO: 42; and(iii) the step of detecting the nucleic acid fragment amplified with a primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 43 and 44 by using the probe of SEQ ID NO: 45.

18. A kit for use in the method of claim 15, which comprises a manual and at least one of: (a) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdt of a Campylobacter bacterium that is amplified by the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 38, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region;(b) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdt of a Campylobacter bacterium that is amplified by the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 40 and 41, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region; and(c) a primer pair capable of amplifying a genomic DNA region of cdt of a Campylobacter bacterium that is amplified by the primer pair comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 43 and 44, or an mRNA region corresponding to the amplifiable genomic DNA region;

19. The kit of claim 18, which further comprises at least one of the probes of SEQ ID NOs: 39, 42, and 45.