Comparison of immune responses in patients infected with Vibrio cholerae O139 and O1

Vibrio cholerae O139 has recently emerged as the second etiologic agent of cholera in Asia, A study was carried out to evaluate the induction of specific immune responses to the organism in V. cholerae O139-infected patients, The immune responses to V. cholerae O139 Bengal were studied in patients by measuring antibody-secreting cells (ASC), as well as vibriocidal and antitoxic antibodies in the circulation, These responses were compared with those in patients with V. cholerae O1 disease, Strong immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgM ASC responses were seen against the homologous lipopolysaccharide or serogroup of V. cholerae. The magnitude and isotype of the responses were similar in O139- and Ol-infected patients. Vibriocidal antibody responses were seen against bacteria of the homologous but not heterologous serogroup, and these responses reflect the lack of cross-protection between the infections caused by the two serogroups, The two groups of patients showed comparable cholera toxin-specific ASC responses, with the Ige isotype dominating over the IgA isotype, as well as comparable antitoxic immune responses in plasma, These results suggest that despite having a polysaccharide capsule, V. cholerae O139 induces systemic and intestine-derived ASC responses in peripheral blood comparable to those seen in patients with V. cholerae O1 disease.