Haemophilus influenzae has a GM1 ganglioside-like structure and elicits Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Mori, M; Kuwabara, S; Miyake, M; Dezawa, M; Adachi-Usami, E; Kuroki, H; Noda, M; Hattori, T · Neurology · 1999

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

The authors report a patient with an axonal Guillain-Barré syndrome (acute motor axonal neuropathy) associated with anti-GM1 antibody after Haemophilus influenzae infection. The result of ELISA inhibition studies and cytochemical staining with cholera toxin suggest the presence of a GM1-like structure on the surface of H. influenzae isolated from the patient. A particular strain of H. influenzae may have a GM1-like structure and may elicit an axonal Guillain-Barré syndrome.

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