HEMAGGLUTINATING PROPERTY AND CELL-SURFACE HYDROPHOBICITY OF VIBRIO-CHOLERAE-0139

Cell-associated haemagglutinating activity was detected in all the epi demic strains of V. cholerae 0139 and 01, isolated in different parts of the country, with erythrocytes from rabbit, rat, chicken and guinea pig. Sheep erythrocytes were unresponsive to both groups of strains. W hile D-mannose, alpha-methyl-D-mannoside, glucosamine, N-acetyl-D-gluc osamine, thyroglobuline were effective inhibitors of the haemagglutina ting activity of the V. cholerae 0139 and 01 strains, galactose and N- acetyl-D-galactosamine sensitive haemagglutinins (HAs) were detected i n the V. cholerae 01 but not in the V. cholerae 0139 strains. The best medium for expression of HAs in V. cholerae 01 and 0139 strains were observed to be penassay broth and tryptic soy broth respectively. The expression of HA in V. cholerae 01 was stimulated by Ca++ and Fe+++ in the growth medium unlike that of V. cholerae 0139 which remained unaf fected by these ions.