Vaccine strategies for prevention of Helicobacter pylori infection.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the level and duration of the humoral immune response to Helicobacter felis following oral immunization or infection.


METHODS
Germ-free mice were orally immunized with sonicated H. felis plus cholera toxin five times over 6 weeks. One week after immunization was completed, immunized and control non-immunized mice received an oral challenge of live H. felis organisms. The animals were killed at 3-week intervals and serum, gastric washings, intestinal washings and gastric biopsies were obtained. H. felis infection was confirmed by a positive urease test or culture of the gastric biopsy. Serum gastric and intestinal antibody titers were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


CONCLUSIONS
Infection and immunization against H. felis produces a specific humoral response. The humoral response in infection alone is significantly smaller than that of immunized animals until 6 weeks after infection. The humoral response following oral immunization persists for at least 18 weeks without further stimulation. The presence of an H. felis-specific antibody immune response before infection may be needed to protect animals from acute Helicobacter infection.
Sellman
S
S
Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Blanchard
T G
TG
Nedrud
J G
JG
Czinn
S J
SJ
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001706:Biopsy; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051379:Mice
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D002772:Cholera Toxin