Structure of Campylobacter jejuni lipopolysaccharides determines antiganglioside specificity and clinical features of Guillain-Barré and Miller Fisher patients

Ang, C.W., Laman, J.D., Willison, H.J. , Wagner, E.R., Endtz, H.P., De Klerk, M.A., Tio-Gillen, A.P., Van den Braak, N., Jacobs, B.C. and Van Doorn, P.A. (2002) Structure of Campylobacter jejuni lipopolysaccharides determines antiganglioside specificity and clinical features of Guillain-Barré and Miller Fisher patients. Infection and Immunity, 70(3), pp. 1202-1208. (doi: 10.1128/IAI.70.3.1202-1208.2002)

Abstract

Ganglioside mimicry in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) fraction of <i>Campylobacter jejuni</i> isolated from Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) patients was compared with isolates from patients with an uncomplicated enteritis. The antibody response to <i>C. jejuni</i> LPS and gangliosides in neuropathy patients and controls was compared as well. LPS from GBS and MFS-associated isolates more frequently contained ganglioside-like epitopes compared to control isolates. Almost all neuropathy patients showed a strong antibody response against LPS and multiple gangliosides in contrast to enteritis patients. Isolates from GBS patients more frequently had a GM1-like epitope than isolates from MFS patients. GQ1b-like epitopes were present in all MFS-associated isolates and was associated with anti-GQ1b antibody reactivity and the presence of oculomotor symptoms. These results demonstrate that the expression of ganglioside mimics is a risk factor for the development of post-<i>Campylobacter</i> neuropathy. This study provides additional evidence for the hypothesis that the LPS fraction determines the antiganglioside specificity and clinical features in post-<i>Campylobacter</i> neuropathy patients.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Willison, Professor Hugh
• Authors: Ang, C.W., Laman, J.D., Willison, H.J., Wagner, E.R., Endtz, H.P., De Klerk, M.A., Tio-Gillen, A.P., Van den Braak, N., Jacobs, B.C., and Van Doorn, P.A.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Journal Name: Infection and Immunity
• Journal Abbr.: IAI
• ISSN: 0019-9567
• ISSN (Online): 1098-5522