# Campylobacter hepaticus Transcriptomics Identified Genes Involved in Spotty Liver Disease (SLD) Pathogenesis

## TL;DR

This study explores how Campylobacter hepaticus changes its gene activity in different environments to cause liver disease in chickens.

## Contribution

The first transcriptomic analysis of C. hepaticus in multiple host-relevant conditions reveals novel gene expression patterns linked to pathogenesis.

## Key findings

- C. hepaticus upregulates motility and stress-related genes in bile, suggesting adaptation to harsh environments.
- In host cells, C. hepaticus downregulates metabolic and motility genes, indicating a dormant intracellular lifestyle.
- Genes related to immune evasion and sulfur metabolism are upregulated in liver isolates, potentially contributing to liver disease progression.

## Abstract

Campylobacter hepaticus is the etiological agent of Spotty Liver Disease (SLD), a newly emerging bacterial disease of laying hens resulting in significant mortality and production losses primarily in free-range systems. Although its economic impact continues to grow, the molecular basis of C. hepaticus pathogenesis remains poorly understood. In this study, we conducted transcriptomic profiling of C. hepaticus in three host-relevant conditions, exposure to chicken bile, infection of a chicken liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LMH) cell line, and isolation from liver lesions of naturally infected chickens. Through RNA-seq analysis, we found unique gene expression signatures in each environment. In the bile, C. hepaticus exhibited differential expression of 412 genes, with upregulation of genes related to motility, cell envelope remodeling, glycosylation, nitrate respiration, and multidrug efflux systems, indicating a stress-adaptive, metabolically active lifestyle. In LMH, on the other hand, 125 genes were differentially expressed, primarily reflecting downregulation of motility, oxidative stress response, chaperones, and core metabolic processes, suggesting that these cells adopt a less active, intracellular dormant lifestyle. Transcriptomic analysis of C. hepaticus isolated from the liver identified 26 differentially expressed genes, featuring selective upregulation of genes associated with nitrate respiration, sulfur metabolism, and pyridoxal 5’ phosphate homeostasis, alongside downregulation of the major outer membrane porin (momp), stress response chaperones (dnaK, groL), and genes involved in oxidative stress defense and energy production. Furthermore, the immune evasion-related gene cmeA and a glycosyltransferase gene were found to be highly upregulated. This study presents the first in-depth transcriptomic exploration of C. hepaticus in multiple host relevant niches. Our findings reveal niche-specific gene expression profiles and highlight metabolic and structural adaptations that enable C. hepaticus to survive during bile exposure, persist within host cells, and contribute to liver pathology. These insights provide a basis for identifying novel virulence determinants and may inform the development of targeted interventions, including vaccines or antimicrobial therapy, to control SLD in commercial poultry operations.