VACCINE DEVELOPMENT AGAINST INFECTION WITH HELICOBACTER-PYLORI

Infection with Helicobacter pylori, is one of the most prevalent infec tions worldwide, where approximately 50% of adults in the developed wo rld and over 90% of inhabitants in the developing world are infected. Chronic infection with H. pylori Is the cause of gastritis, peptic ulc er disease and is a risk factor for gastric adenocarcinoma Recent stud ies have demonstrated the suitability of an immunization strategy in t he prevention and treatment of H, pylori infection, and the potential for management of disease. Mucosal administration of purified recombin ant sub-unit proteins of H. pylori, together with a mucosal adjuvant, has identified urease to be highly efficacious in prophylactic and the rapeutic animal model studies, and show partial therapeutic activity i n humans. Several other antigens are also effective, and the recent se quencing of;he H. pylori genome has led to an intensive effort in anti gen discovery. Other research has centered on the identification of no vel approaches for delivery, and the immunological mechanisms underlyi ng protective immunity. In this review, preclinical data and the resul ts of early-stage clinical trials and directions for future research o n Helicobacter vaccines are described.