Haemolytic activity of Campylobacter pylori

The haemolytic activity of several clinical and reference strains of Campylobacter pylori was determined using cell-free preparations of broth-grown organisms and human, horse, guinea pig, rabbit and sheep erythrocytes. Significant levels of haemolysis were produced only when the cell-free preparations were concentrated tenfold. However, three of 14 strains still gave haemolysis values of less than 50% when tested with guinea pig erythrocytes. Significant haemolytic activity could not be demonstrated with preparations derived from bacteria cultured on solid medium. Irrespective of the strain examined or the type of preparation, strong urease activity was demonstrable. Purified urease had no effect on erythrocytes, and thiourea failed to inhibit the haemolytic activity of Campylobacter pylori cell-free preparations. It was concluded that ureolytic activity was not implicated in the lysis of erythrocytes, either by direct action or via the generation of ammonia. Furthermore, the haemolytic activity produced by Campylobacter pylori was found to be due to a secreted factor, possibly a haemolysin.