Conservation and diversity of Campylobacter pyloridis major antigens

Infection with Campylobacter pyloridis has been strongly associated with gastritis in humans although its etiologic significance is currently undefined. We examined the structure and antigenicity of whole-cell, outer-membrane, acid-extractable surface protein, and proteinase K-treated whole cell lysate preparations from eight C. pyloridis strains by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting with homologous and heterologous immune rabbit serum. Whole-cell and outer-membrane profiles observed in all strains of C. pyloridis were nearly identical; none were similar to those of C. jejuni and C. fetus. Major whole-cell bands migrated at 26,000, 29,000, 56,000, and 62,000 molecular weights. The acid-extracted protein profiles of all C. pyloridis strains also were similar to one another and showed similarities with acid-extracted proteins from C. jejuni, with major bands migrating at 29,000, 48,000 to 53,000, and 62,000. All proteinase K-treated lysates showed different lipopolysaccharide (LPS) profiles, ranging from rough to smooth with multiple repeating side chains. Immunoblots of whole-cell and proteinase K-treated preparations of the C. pyloridis strains showed that there was antigenic cross-reactivity of proteins migrating at 62,000 and 56,000, but not in other regions, and cross-reactivity between LPS core regions but not side chains. These results suggest that C. pyloridis has both protein and core LPS group antigens and strain-specific protein and LPS side chain antigens.