ADHESION OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI STRAINS TO ALPHA-2,3-LINKED SIALIC ACIDS

Helicobacter pylori is a human pathogen associated with gastritis and peptic ulcer. Adhesion properties of H. pylori to various structures h ave been described in the literature, including evidence for sialic ac id-binding. To study the specificity and frequency of sialic acid-bind ing, fourteen H. pylori strains were investigated using haemagglutinat ion with derivatised erythrocytes carrying sialic acids only on define d glycans and using haemagglutination inhibition assays. From these st udies H. pylori strains can be grouped into sialic acid-dependent and sialic acid-independent classes. The sialic acid-dependent strains req uire alpha-2,3-linked sialic acid for haemagglutination. The potential roles of sialic acid-dependent adhesions for H. pylori-related infect ions are discussed.