Role of the Campylobacter jejuni Cj1461 DNA methyltransferase in regulating virulence characteristics.

Mutation of the cj1461 predicted methyltransferase gene reduced the motility of Campylobacter jejuni 81-176. Electron microscopy revealed that the mutant strain had flagella but with aberrant structure. The Delta cj1461 mutant was sevenfold more adherent to but 50-fold less invasive of INT-407 human epithelial cells than the wild type.