RESTRICTION-FRAGMENT-LENGTH-POLYMORPHISM OF FLAGELLIN GENES OF CAMPYLOBACTER-JEJUNI AND OR CAMPYLOBACTER-COLI ISOLATES FROM EGYPT/

The conservation of flagellin genes from thermophilic Campylobacter sp p. strains isolated in Egypt was evaluated by a restriction fragment l ength polymorphism (RFLP) assay, The flaA and flaB genes were amplifie d from 59 independent clinical isolates and digested with EcoRI and Ps tI, and the resulting patterns were compared with each other and with previously described RFLP groups. The results indicate that the isolat es fell into 14 groups for flaA and 11 groups for flaB, 9 of which hav e been described, and that considerable genetic variability exists amo ng isolates belonging to the same LIO serogroup. In most cases, the fl aB gene displayed the same RFLP pattern as that of the flaA gene of th e same strain, although some variability was observed. The data sugges t that more variability of flagellin genes exists within the LIO serog roups common to Campylobacter field isolates from Egypt than has previ ously been reported for North American isolates.