DETECTION OF A HELICOBACTER-PYLORI GENE MARKER IN GASTRIC BIOPSY SAMPLES BY NONRADIOACTIVE IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION

The presence of H. pylori was examined by non-radioactive in situ hybr idization using a digoxigenin-labelled DNA probe and a synthetic H. py lori urease gene-specific thymine-thymine dimerized oligonucleotide pr obe. H. pylori was detected in 20/33 gastric biopsy specimens, and was localized in gastric epithelia and neutrophils. No non-specific DNA s ignal was detected in colonic mucosa, esophageal mucosa, skin and live r specimens. The DNA probe did not cross-hybridize with DNA from other bacteria. As this method is specific and not time-consuming, it may b e useful for revealing the location of H. pylori.