Genomics, Epidemiology and Evolution of Campylobacter, Helicobacter and Related Organisms

The Campylobacterales are typically microaerophilic species that are often host adapted with the potential for zoonotic infections. The order includes Campylobacter which is the most common bacterial source of gastroenteritis worldwide; Helicobacter which have been associated with peptic ulcers, chronic gastritis, duodenitis, and stomach cancer; the veterinary and clinical pathogen Arcobacter and other related organisms. In conjunction with recent conferences, we present a collection of contemporary studies investigating the genomics of these organisms, guest-edited by members of the conference organising committees: Dr Beile Gao (CHRO-2022; Chinese Academy of Sciences); Dr Ben Pascoe (CampyUK-2021; University of Oxford) and Professor Sam Sheppard (Ineos Oxford Institute, University of Oxford). The Genomics, epidemiology and evolution of Campylobacter, Helicobacter and Related Organisms collection will bring together recent advances that use genomic data to advance understanding in the field. Wide-ranging contributions include findings from active national surveillance programs, comparisons of local and global variations in population structure, studies of antimicrobial resistance emergence and spread, core and accessory genome evolutionary analyses, pathogenicity studies, investigations of plasmids and mobile elements, and genome rearrangement, editing and/or methylation studies.