Protection against Helicobacter pylori infection by intestinal immunisation with a 50/52-kDa subunit protein

A mouse model of Helicobacter pylori infection was used to evaluate the vac cine antigen potential of the citrate synthase homologue protein purified f rom the H. pylori NCTC 11637 strain. Mice were immunised with the protein b y intra-Peyer's patch immunisation. This route gives maximal intestinal imm unisation and was used to screen oral vaccine candidate antigens without th e added complication of simultaneously testing oral delivery systems. Two w eeks post-immunisation mice were infected with Sydney strain H, pylori and 4 weeks after infection the mice were killed and the level of H. pylori inf ection in the stomach determined. Pre-immunisation with the 50/52-kDa prote in led to a 84-91% reduction in H. pylori infection compared to unimmunised controls. (C) 1999 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Publi shed by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.