RESUMO
The participation of the flagella of a virulent strain (O52) of campylobacter jejuni subsp. jejuni in the adhesion to HEp-2 cells and their inhibition by means of homologous polyclonal antibodies, moniclonal antiflagella antibodies and colostral natural antibodies (IgA) was studied. An aflagellated strain (T1) was used as negative control. Adhesion was observed in higher rates with O52 strain (72 percent) than with T1 strain (27,5 percent). Polyclonal, monoclonal and colostral antibodies inhibited O52 strain adhesion in more than 70 percent (p<0,001). T1 strain adhesion was inhibited only by polyclonal and colostral natural antibodies. Our results suggest that the flagella of C. jejuni subsp. jejuni could participate effectively in the adhesion process. However, the inhibition of T1 strain by polyclonal and colostral antibodies suggest the existence of other kinds of adhesins in the bacterial surface