Abstract
There was a sporadic outbreak of cholera in 1994 in Okinawa. Immune response of the cholera patients against Vibrio cholerae cell components and extracellular proteins were examined. A potent response to cholera toxin and hemolysin, and generally poor response to purified cellular components were seen. Although the antigen was not defined, marked elevation of vibriocidal antibody and cell agglutination antibody was observed. Only little elevation of the agglutination titer against heat-killed organisms suggests that the antigen (agglutinin) is heat labile protein on the cell surface.
Identification and purification of this protein antigen will elucidate a protective antigen of V. cholerae.
