IMMUNOBIOLOGY OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION

Helicobacter pylori is a 'slow' bacterial pathogen. While infection is usually acquired early in life, only decades later does severe pathol ogy appear. During this long period of incubation, the host mounts a v igorous immune response against H. pylori which fails to resolve the i nfection and may in fact contribute to the severity of the disease. In the past year, evidence has accumulated indicating a role for a polar ized T helper 1 cell response in the gastric pathology induced by H. p ylori. Furthermore, a pathogenicity island in type 1 H. pylori strains has been shown to be responsible for H. pylori induced inflammation, Recent advances in animal models have provided the rationale for enter ing into human clinical trials of an H. pylori vaccine.