Cross-protection of infant mice against intestinal colonisation by Campylobacter jejuni: importance of heat-labile serotyping (Lior) antigens.

An association of the heat-labile antigens detected by the Lior serotyping scheme with ability to protect infant mice against gastrointestinal colonisation with Campylobacter jejuni has been established. Overall, 39 (57%) of 68 infant mice challenged with a heterologous strain of the same Lior serotype as the vaccine strain were protected, compared with 40 (85%) of 47 infants protected against a homologous challenge. In contrast, none of the infant mice challenged with a strain carrying the same heat-stable antigens (i.e., of the same Penner serotype as the vaccine strain) were protected.