PENNERS SEROTYPE-4 OF CAMPYLOBACTER-JEJUNI HAS A LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE THAT BEARS A GM1 GANGLIOSIDE EPITOPE AS WELL AS ONE THAT BEARS A GD1A EPITOPE

The carbohydrate structures of lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) of Campyloba cter jejuni strains belonging to Penner's serotypes (PEN) 1, 2, 4, 19, 23, and 36 were studied by thin-layer chromatography and immuno-stain ing with several monoclonal antiganglioside antibodies. Auti-GM1 and a nti-GD1a antibodies reacted with the LPSs of PEN 1, 4, and 19. Aspinal l et al. (G. O. Aspinall; A. G. McDonald, T. S. Raju, H. Pang, A. P. M oran, and J. L. Penner. Eur. J. Biochem. 213:1017-1027, 1993) recently reported that the LPS of PEN 4 has a GD1a ganglioside-like structure rather than a GM1-like structure. We found that the LPS fraction of C. jejuni (PEN 4) has an LPS that bears a GM1 epitope as well as an LPS t hat bears a GD1a epitope.