CHARACTERIZATION OF CAMPYLOBACTER-JEJUNI ISOLATES FROM PATIENTS WITH GUILLAIN-BARRE-SYNDROME

Campylobacter jejuni is a major pathogen preceding Guillain-Barre synd rome (GBS), and most C. jejuni isolates from GBS patients belong to Pe nner serotype 19 (heat-stable; HS-19). We analyzed sixteen independent clinical isolates from GBS patients, twelve of which belonged to HS-1 9, three to HS-2, and one to HS-4, using PCR-based RFLP analysis of a flagellin-A (flaA) gene. Two isolates from patients with Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS), and 27 from patients with uncomplicated enteritis wer e also examined. All HS-19 isolates, regardless of GBS, showed an iden tical pattern (Cj-1) by RFLP typing and were distinguishable from thos e of the other Penner serogroups. In contrast, HS-2 and HS-4 isolates were divided into several different RFLP groups, suggesting HS-19 stra ins are genetically distinctive among C. jejuni isolates. A DNA finger printing method also failed to detect any specific band pattern for GB S-related C. jejuni isolates. We examined relationships among anti-GM1 antibody titres in the sera of GBS patients, clinical forms of GBS, s erotype of C. jejuni, and the presence of GM1-like structures in lipop olysaccharide (LPS) components from C. jejuni isolates by immunoblotti ng. HS-19 related GBS was significantly associated with elevated anti- GM1 antibody titers in the sera of the patients, but not associated wi th any clinical pattern of GBS. No significant correlations were found between anti-GM1 antibody and the pattern of disease, or between GBS- related C. jejuni strains and the presence of GM1-like structures. HS- 19 strains seem to be unique among C. jejuni isolates, and HS-19-relat ed GBS may provide an excellent model for clarification of the pathoge nesis of GBS. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.