Major Outer Membrane Proteins from Many Campylobacter Species Cross-React with Cholera Toxin

Abstract

ABSTRACT We have previously shown that Campylobacter jejuni strains do not produce a functional cholera toxin-like toxin (CTLT) detectable in a Chinese hamster ovary cell assay. Instead, the 53-kDa major outer membrane protein (OMP) of C. jejuni , PorA, reacts with cholera toxin (CT) antibody on immunoblots. Here, we have extended this observation to other species of Campylobacter , including C. coli, C. lari, C. fetus, C. hyointestinalis , and C. upsaliensis , the common 53-kDa OMP of which reacted with CT antibody in immunoblotting assays. There were additional reactive bands for C. fetus . As with C. jejuni , this finding may lead to the erroneous conclusion that these additional species produce a functional CTLT. However, this common cross-reactive OMP can be explored as a vaccine candidate to prevent campylobacteriosis.