Identification of a unique Helicobacter species by 16S rRNA gene analysis in an abdominal abscess from a patient with X-linked hypogammaglobulinemia

A unique Helicobacter species, MZ640285, was isolated from a patient with X -linked hypogammaglobulinemia suffering from recurrent abdominal abscesses and was identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. In the phylogenetic tree, the isolate fell into a cluster which included Flexispira rappini, He licobacter bills, and Helicobacter sp. strain Mainz, Helicobacters are bein g increasingly recognized as pathogens in immunocompromised hosts. These fa stidious bacteria are not easily cultured in the routine diagnostic laborat ory, and this is the first report of their identification by 16S rRNA gene sequencing performed directly from a clinical specimen.