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.
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