Haemagglutination patterns of Helicobacter pylori. Frequency of sialic acid-specific and non-sialic acid-specific haemagglutinins.
Thirty-two Helicobacter pylori strains were screened for haemagglutination (HA) activity with erythrocytes of 11 different animal species. Twenty-three strains (72%) that agglutinated human erythrocytes exhibited a broad-spectrum HA profile. Human, guinea pig and bovine erythrocytes high in sialoglycoconjugates were strongly agglutinated by most strains. Except for two, seven strains (22%) that did not agglutinate human erythrocytes exhibited a narrow-spectrum HA profile, commonly not inhibitable by sialoglycoconjugates or N-acetylneuraminlactose (NANLac). Strains were classified into three major HA classes. HA of 10 strains (31%) in class I was inhibited by different combinations of NANLac, orosomucoid or fetuin, but not by asialofetuin, suggesting the presence of sialic acid-specific HAs probably recognizing NeuAc alpha-(2-3)- Gal isomer. Twelve strains (38%) in class II exhibited a different receptor specificity binding to different combinations of NANLac, orosomucoid and fetuin, as well as asialofetuin. No inhibition was observed with 10 strains (31%) in class III; thus, this receptor seems different from both the other classes. Of 21 strains (66%) in classes I and II, HA of 11 strains (34%) was inhibited with NANLac, 14 strains (44%) with orosomucoid and 15 strains (47%) with fetuin. The great heterogeneity observed in HA patterns indicates that the HAs of different strains may recognize a heterogeneous class of sialoglycoconjugates on the erythrocyte membrane.
Lelwala-Guruge
J
J
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Lund, Sweden.
Ljungh
A
A
Wadström
T
T
D000818:Animals; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D006001:Glycoconjugates / Q000032:analysis; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000502:physiology*; D006384:Hemagglutination; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000494:pharmacology; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000502:physiology*
D006001:Glycoconjugates; D006388:Hemagglutinins; D012794:Sialic Acids; D009439:Neuraminidase; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid