DEPARTMENT OF GENETICS

Julian Ketley

Contact Details

Address:	Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH UK
Building:	Adrian Building
Room:	145/6
Telephone:	internal 3434; external +44 (0)116 2523434
Fax:	+44 (0)116 2523378
Email:	ket@le.ac.uk

Research Interests

The molecular pathogenesis of enteric bacteria. Investigation of potential virulence determinants, regulatory systems and host-pathogen interactions of the important enteric pathogens, Camplyobacter jejuni and Vibrio cholerae.

Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli are important aetiological agents of acute diarrhoeal disease in humans. In the developed world the incidence of disease due to Campylobacters is at least double that due to the more newsworthy Salmonella and consequently the cost to the nation in terms of health and lost industrial output is high. Although a few putative virulence characteristics, namely toxin production, adherence and invasion have been described, the mechanisms by which Campylobacter cause disease remain poorly understood. Recently, the genome sequence of C. jejuni has been derived at the Sanger Centre and this has given a fascinating insight into the biology of the campylobacters.

Ongoing research projects in the group include:

Iron uptake mechanisms in C. jejuni
The Campylobacter Fur-PerR regulators
Two component regulators in C. jejuni
Campylobacter Lipooligosaccharide biosynthesis
Campylobacter functional genomics: the proteome

Recent Publications

2000

Fry, B., N. Oldfield, V. Korolik, P. Coloe, and J. Ketley 2000. The genetics of lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis of Campylobacter. In I. Nachamkin, and M. Blaser (eds), Campylobacter. ASM Press, Washington, DC.
Parkhill, J., B. Wren, K. Mungall, J. Ketley, C. Churcher, D. Basham, T. Chillingworth, R. Davies, T. Feltwell, S. Holroyd, K. Jagels, A. Karlyshev, S. Moule, M. Pallen, C. Penn, M. Quail, M.-A. Rajandream, K. Rutherford, A. van Vliet, S. Whitehead, and B. Barrell 2000. The complete genome sequence of the food-borne pathogen Campylobacter jejuni reveals hypervariable sequences associated with surface structures. Nature. 403:665-668.
van Vliet, A. H. M., J. D. Rock, L. N. Madeleine, and J. M. Ketley 2000. The iron-responsive regulator Fur of Campylobacter jejuni is expressed from two separate promoters. FEMS Microbiology Letters. 188:115-118.

1999

Baillon, M. L., A. H. van Vliet, J. M. Ketley, C. Constantinidou, and C. W. Penn 1999. An iron-regulated alkyl hydroperoxide reductase (AhpC) confers aerotolerance and oxidative stress resistance to the microaerophilic pathogen Campylobacter jejuni. Journal of Bacteriology. 181:4798-804.
Bras, A. M., S. Chatterjee, B. W. Wren, D. G. Newell, and J. M. Ketley 1999. A novel Campylobacter jejuni two-component regulatory system important for temperature-dependent growth and colonization. Journal of Bacteriology 181:3298-302.
Bras, A. M., and J. M. Ketley 1999. Transcellular translocation of Campylobacter jejuni across human polarised epithelial monolayers FEMS Microbiol Lett. 179:209-15.
Everest, P., J. Ketley, S. Hardy, G. Douce, S. Khan, J. Shea, D. Holden, D. Maskell, and G. Dougan 1999. Evaluation of Salmonella typhimurium mutants in a model of experimental gastroenteritis. Infection And Immunity. 67:2815-21.
Karlyshev, A. V., J. Henderson, J. M. Ketley, and B. W. Wren 1999. Procedure for the investigation of bacterial genomes: random shot-gun cloning, sample sequencing and mutagenesis of Campylobacter jejuni. Biotechniques. 26:50-2, 54, 56.
Kingsley, R. A., R. Reissbrodt, W. Rabsch, J. M. Ketley, R. M. Tsolis, P. Everest, G. Dougan, A. J. Baumler, M. Roberts, and P. H. Williams 1999. Ferrioxamine-mediated Iron(III) utilization by Salmonella enterica. Applied Environmental Microbiology. 65:1610-8.
Lodge, J. M., A. J. Bolton, G. D. Martin, M. P. Osbourne, J. M. Ketley, and J. Stephen 1999. A histotoxin produced by Salmonella. Journal of Medical Microbiology. 48:811-818.
van Vliet, A. H., M. L. Baillon, C. W. Penn, and J. M. Ketley 1999. Campylobacter jejuni contains two fur homologs: characterization of iron-responsive regulation of peroxide stress defense genes by the PerR repressor. Journal of Bacteriology 181:6371-6.
von Kruger, W., S. Humphreys, and J. Ketley 1999. A role for the PhoBR regulatory system homologue in the Vibrio cholerae phosphate limitation response and intestinal colonisation. Microbiology. 145:2463-2475.
Wood, A., N. Oldfield, C. O'Dwyer, and J. Ketley 1999. Cloning, mutation and distribution of a putative lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis locus in Campylobacter jejuni. Microbiology. 145:379-388.
Wood, A. C., N. J. Oldfield, C. A. O'Dwyer, and J. M. Ketley 1999. Cloning, mutation and distribution of a putative lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis locus in Campylobacter jejuni. Microbiology. 145:379-88.

1998

Karlyshev, A. V., J. Henderson, J. M. Ketley, and B. W. Wren 1998. An improved physical and genetic map of Campylobacter jejuni NCTC 11168 (UA580). Microbiology. 144:503-508.
van Vliet, A. H. M., A. C. Wood, J. Henderson, K. G. Wooldridge, and J. M. Ketley 1998. Genetic Manipulation of enteric Campylobacter species, p. 407-420. In P. Williams, J. Ketley, and G. Salmond (eds), Bacterial Pathogenesis, vol. 27. Academic Press, London.
van Vliet, A. H. M., K. G. Wooldridge, and J. M. Ketley 1998. Iron-responsive gene regulation in a Campylobacter jejuni fur mutant Journal of Bacteriology. 180:5291-5298.

Publications search on PubMed

Teaching

List of modules and courses on which I teach:

Genes BS105
Genome Organisation BS209
Genes, Development and Inheritance BS226
Microbial Molecular Genetics BS309
Advanced Topics in Human Genetics (special study skills module, Medicine)
M.Sc. Molecular Genetics.

Administration

Departmental Postgraduate Tutor (Assessment, Monitoring and Support)

Last updated: August 2000
Julian Ketley
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