Mannose-resistant Haemagglutination by Campylobacter pylori

Abstract
10 Campylobacter pylori strains were screened for the presence of presumptive colonization factors by measuring cell surface hydrophobicity and haemagglutination. All 8 clinical isolates and 2 reference strains caused haemagglutination of rabbit, human and/or sheep erythrocytes in the presence of mannose. None of the strains expressed a hydrophobic cell surface. In preliminary experiments the haemagglutination could be inhibited with monosia-logangliosides suggesting that these strains express sialic acid specific haemagglutinin(s) which could be involved in colonization of mucosal surfaces.