Purification and Characterization of Fimbriae of Vibrio cholerae O1, Classical Biotype, Inaba Serotype

Fimbrial subunits have been shown to share commonantigenicities between Vibrio cholerae biotype El Tor and biotype classical (Ehara et al., 1987). The above fact was confirmed by western blotting and immunoelectron microscopy. Net-work and bundle formations were observed in the fimbrial preparations by immunoelectron microscopy. Purified fimbriae of Vibrio cholerae O1, classical biotype possessed haemagglutination activity (HA) against chicken erythrocytes. This HA was inhibited in the presence of D-mannose but not by L-fucose. Antigenic determinants of the fimbriae were exposed on the sides of the fiber. The low hydrophobicity of the fimbriae molecule revealed by the amino acid composition suggests that the fimbriae may interact with epithelial cells not by hydrophobic interaction. Development of the antibody against fimbrial subunit of V. cholerae O1 was confirmed in the blood sera obtained from convalescent cholera patients.