IMMUNOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF THE CELL-SURFACE HEMAGGLUTININS (SHAS) OFHELICOBACTER-PYLORI STRAIN NCTC-11637

Rabbits were immunised with stage 1 and stage 2 soluble haemagglutinin s (sHA) of Helicobacter pylori strain NCTC 11637 and with rabbit eryth rocytes coated with stage 1 sHA. After adsorption of stage 1 sHA on er ythrocytes, SDS-PAGE analysis showed that 4 major protein bands were r emoved from the preparation. The anti-sHA coated erythrocyte serum had the highest HA inhibition titre of 16. Crossed immunoelectrophoresis of the stage 1 sHA, against stage 1 and 2 antisera showed multiple pre cipitin arcs; however, the anti-sHA coated erythrocyte serum produced only two arcs. One are produced by the anti-stage 2 serum was absent w ith the anti-stage 1 serum. This are could have been produced against a 20 kDa polypeptide which was absent in the stage 1 sHA. The other ar e was stronger when compared with that produced by anti-stage 1 serum. These two arcs corresponded to the two arcs produced by the anti-sHA coated erythrocyte serum, which had the highest inhibition titre. The two arcs were markedly reduced in crossed immunoelectrophoresis with a n adsorbed stage 1 sHA preparation, which indicates that these arcs we re produced against the sHAs.