Role ofCampylobacter jejuniInfection in the Pathogenesis of Guillain-Barré Syndrome: An Update

Abstract

Our current knowledge onCampylobacter jejuniinfections in humans has progressively increased over the past few decades. Infection withC. jejuniis the most common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis, sometimes surpassing other infections due toSalmonella,Shigella, andEscherichia coli.Most infections are acquired due to consumption of raw or undercooked poultry, unpasteurized milk, and contaminated water. After developing the diagnostic methods to detectC. jejuni, the possibility to identify the association of its infection with new diseases has been increased. After the successful isolation ofC. jejuni, reports have been published citing the occurrence of GBS followingC. jejuniinfection. Thus,C. jejuniis now considered as a major triggering agent of GBS. Molecular mimicry between sialylated lipooligosaccharide structures on the cell envelope of these bacteria and ganglioside epitopes on the human nerves that generates cross-reactive immune response results in autoimmune-driven nerve damage. ThoughC. jejuniis associated with several pathologic forms of GBS, axonal subtypes followingC. jejuniinfection may be more severe. Ample amount of existing data covers a large spectrum of GBS; however, the studies onC. jejuni-associated GBS are still inconclusive. Therefore, this review provides an update on theC. jejuniinfections engaged in the pathogenesis of GBS.