HEAT-LABILE AND HEAT-STABLE HEMOLYSINS OF CAMPYLOBACTER-JEJUNI

During studies on the virulence mechanisms of Campylobacter jejuni cli nic-al isolates it became apparent that some strains produced one or m ore haemolysins and some did not. There was no great difference betwee n Group C (cholera-like) strains and Group D (dysentery-like) strains. The protein haemolysin(s) showed a spectrum of activity against eryth rocytes from different animals; with maximum activity against rabbit a nd minimal activity against chicken erythrocytes. The results suggeste d a two-stage activation mechanism for haemolysis which involved a mul ti-hit lytic activity. It was concluded that the C. jejuni haemolysins were not identical to those described in other organisms and they may be involved in iron acquisition in vivo.