Frequency of antibodies to the recombinant protein P39 of C. jejuni in patients with gastrointestinal disorders and reactive arthritis in Poland

INTRODUCTION: Campylobacterjejuni is has been found to be the leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide. Clinical manifestation on enterocolitis caused by C. jejuni are diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain and in some patients, fecal blood. After C. jejuni infection, squeals may occur such as reactive arthritis. The aim of the study was to investigate the frequency of antibodies to the recombinant protein P39 sticks C. jejuni in patients with gastrointestinal disorders and reactive arthritis in Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Serum samples collected from 46 patients with bacteriology confir- med infection caused by Campylobacter jejuni, 472 sera from patients with gastrointestinal disorders, 97 serum samples obtained from patients with reactive arthritis and 84 sera from healthy adults and children. Sera were screened for anti-P39 C. jejuni recombinant protein IgA, IgG andIgM antibodies by using the home-made ELISA. Protein P39 C. jejuni was expressing in E. coli BL21 (DE3) using the pET-30 Ek/LIC expression vector. Purification was accomplished by immobilized metal (Ni2+) affinity column chromatography (His Bind Resign, Novagen). RESULTS: SDS-PAGE and Coomassie brilliant blue staining confirmed a high purity of the recombinant P39 protein preparation with an expected molecular mass of 39 kDa. The results of ELISA with the P39 recombinant protein revealed that IgA antibodies in diagnostically significant level (x + 2SD) were found in 18.8%, IgM in 14.8% and IgG in 7.8% of sera obtained from patients with of gastrointestinal disorders. On the other hand, antibodies to recombinant P39 protein in sera obtained from patients with reactive arthritis were found in more than twice the percentage than in patients with gastrointestinal disorders (IgA in 34.0%, IgG in 26.8% and IgM in 19.6%). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, based on the data obtained, C. jejuni may be important factor in triggering the gastrointestinal disorder and reactive arthritis in humans in Poland.