PCR법을 이용한 국내 분리 캠필로박터균에서 Guillain-Barre Syndrome 관련 galE 유전자 검출에 관한 연구

Original Article : Detection of galE gene in Campylobacter spp. associated with Guillain-Barre syndrome using polymerase chain reaction

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is the most common cause of acute flaccid paralysis and autoimmune polyradiculo-neuropathy. Campylobacter jejuni is the most commonly identified infectious trigger for GBS. A sialic-acid containing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Campylobacter is thought to be involved in the triggering of GBS. The galE (UDP-galactoset-epimerase) gene of Campylobacter spp. is involved in the synthesis of LPS. In this study, we detected the galE gene in Campylobacter spp. responsible for triggering the onset of GBS. The PCR assay detected the presence of the gene in 14 of the 25 (56%) Campylobacter isolates from domestic chicken, 20 of the 28 (71.4%) Campylobacter isolates from imported chicken and 50 of the 51 (98%) Campylobacter isolates from human clinical samples. Also, the specific 497-bp region of galE sequence in Campylobacters responsible for triggering the onset of GBS was amplified from GBS patient. These results could provide evidence of the first GBS-related C. jejuni infection in Korea.