PARTICIPATION OF CAMPYLOBACTER-JEJUNI FLA GELLAR EPITOPES IN CELLULARADHESION

Using a flagellated (052) and an aflagellated (T-1) strains we studied the participation of flagellar epitopes of C. jejuni in the adhesion to HEp-2 cells in vitro. Strain 052 was significantly more adherent th an strain T-l. When adhesion assays were carried out with antiflagella monoclonal antibodies, strain 052 showed inhibition of their adhesive capacity that varied between 64.3 and 92.9%. With an ELISA test it wa s demonstrated that those monoclonal antibodies were specific and dire cted exclusively against flagellar epitopes of strain 052 being unreac tive with strain T-l. Our results show that flagellar epitopes could p articipate in the adhesion process suggesting that flagella could be i nvolved in the installation of the infectious process.