Estimating mutation rates in Campylobacter lineages using a micro-evolutionary approach

<i>Campylobacter jejuni</i> and <i>Campylobacter coli</i> are hugely diverse species with multiple lineages commonly found in the intestines of most mammals and avian species, with poultry being the main source of food-related infection. The rate at which individual lineages are evolving is misunderstood but can provide great insight into how the accumulation of genetic variation over time can contribute to the success of adapting to hosts. We used a microevolutionary approach to estimate the effect of mutation and recombination on the rate at which lineages of both species evolve.