Flagellation is one of the major virulence factors of Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni), enabling bacterial cells to swarm in rather high viscous fluids. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the surrounding viscosity on the expression of motility related genes of C. jejuni. Therefore, bacterial RNA was extracted from liquid cultures as well as from bacterial cells recovered from the edge and the center of a swarming halo from high viscous media. The expression pattern of selected flagellar and chemotaxis related genes was investigated by RT-PCR. Higher mRNA levels of class 1 and lower levels of class 2 and 3 flagellar assembly genes were detected in cells derived from the edge of a swarming halo than in cells from the center. This indicates different growth states at both locations within the swarming halo. Furthermore, higher mRNA levels for energy taxis and motor complex monomer genes were detected in high viscous media compared to liquid culture, indicating higher demand of energy if C. jejuni cells were cultivated in high viscous media. The impact of the surrounding viscosity should be considered in future studies regarding motility related questions.
