Animal-passage of campylobacter strains with iron-dextran enhances the expression of an outer membrane protein

ABSTRACT

The outer membrane proteins [OMP] of four C. jejuni/coli isolates have been identified by SDS - PAGE using Sarkosyl extraction of crude membranes. Sarkosyl insoluble fractions of four strains consistently contained a major OMP in the range of 43 k to 48 k, in addition to some minor proteins. SDS - PAGE profile of animal - passed virulence enhanced strains, when compared with the original isogenic strains when compared with the original isogenic strains, revealed the presence of a protein band migrating at 66 k to 68 k in addition to the characteristic major OMP band, suggesting a selective enhancement of this protein during animal passage in presence of iron - dextran. This shift in OMP expression was associated with enhanced virulence of C. jejuni for BALB/c mice. Immunobloting to analyse the antigens in OMP showed antigenicity to the major OMP. The role of the 68 k OMP in the pathogenesis of C jejuni for BALB/c mice remains to be studied