Haemagglutinating activity of Campylobacter pylori

Abstract Thirty-one isolates of Campylobacter pylori , screened for their ability to agglutinate a panel of erythrocyte species, could be divided into two phenotypic groups on the basis of their ability to agglutinate human A and O erythrocytes, a property which correlated strongly with their ability to agglutinate horse and cat erythrocytes. Isolates which agglutinated human red blood cells exhibited a broad-spectrum haemagglutination profile on other red blood cells including dog, goat, guinea-pig, ox, rat and sheep erythrocytes. Agglutination dog, guinea-pig, horse and human erythrocytes by C. pylori was mannose-resistant. Haemagglutination was not inhibited by other saccharides tested nor by two glycoproteins or serine. The bacterial ligand was protease- and heat-sensitive. Neither protease nor neuraminidase treatment of erythrocytes prevented agglutination.