SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of whole-cell preparations of Campylobacter species were performed to find whether the profiles obtained by silver staining could be used for the rapid identification and differentiation among species of Campylobacter.
The profiles of C. jejuni, C. coli, C. laridis and C. fetus subsp. fetus could be distinguished from one another on the basis of migration of the major bands. A major band at the position of approximately 80, 000 daltons was observed as the distinctive band of C. jejuni, and two major bands at the positions close to 80, 000 daltons were characteristic of C. coli.
This method could be completed within 5 hr by use of ready-made gel and silver staining.
