Human antibody response to Campylobacter jejuni flagellin protein and a synthetic N-terminal flagellin peptide.

Abstract

We measured isotype-specific human antibodies directed against Campylobacter jejuni native flagellin and a synthetic peptide derived from the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the protein by using a microdilution enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum samples from patients with gastrointestinal infection caused by C. jejuni (n = 20) and control samples (number from normal subjects = 20; number from patients with diarrhea other than campylobacter = 20) were tested in this assay. Serum specimens from patients with campylobacter infection showed statistically significant higher isotype-specific antiflagellin antibody titers than control samples did. Detection of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies was less specific (70%) than detection of either IgA or IgM antibodies in infected patients (95%). The sensitivity of testing for any of the isotypes ranged from 64 to 100% in acute-phase serum specimens and 85 to 95% in convalescent-phase serum specimens. An ELISA with an N-terminal synthetic peptide derived from the flagellin protein as antigen was not sensitive (60%) for detecting campylobacter infection but was very specific (97.5%). In conclusion, detection of serum IgA or IgM against C. jejuni flagellin may be a useful marker of infection. Although the N-terminal synthetic peptide was antigenic in a few patients with infection and showed good specificity in the ELISA, additional amino acid sequences with better sensitivity for detecting infection need to be identified.

• Authors: I Nachamkin, X H Yang
• Journal: Journal of clinical microbiology (J Clin Microbiol) Vol. 27 Issue 10 Pg. 2195-8 (Oct 1989) ISSN: 0095-1137 [Print] United States
• PMID: 2584372 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Bacterial
• Antigens, Bacterial
• Bacterial Proteins
• Immunoglobulin A
• Immunoglobulin G
• Immunoglobulin M
• Peptides
• Flagellin

Topics

• Amino Acid Sequence
• Antibodies, Bacterial (biosynthesis)
• Antigens, Bacterial
• Bacterial Proteins (immunology)
• Binding, Competitive
• Campylobacter fetus (immunology)
• Flagellin (immunology)
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin A (biosynthesis)
• Immunoglobulin G (biosynthesis)
• Immunoglobulin M (biosynthesis)
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Peptides (immunology)