On Wed, 22 Mar 1995, Bryan Kiehl wrote:
> I work in a development diagnostic company and am thinking about developing a helicobacter test.
> I understand that there are many test, but would like to develop one measuring antibodies against
> specific proteins. To do this, I would need either affinity purified, recombinant, or peptide proteins.
> These should be specific to the species. Anyone have suggestions?
>>Dear Bryan,
Although the urease genes have been well characterized from H. pylori,
they are found in other bacteria, including enteric bugs. There is a
sialic acid binding protein called HpaA that appears to be unique to the
species, although other bacteria have sialic acid-binding proteins. The
most recent reference for HpaA is
Evans, et al. 1993. Cloning, Nucleotide Sequence, and Expression of a
Gene Encoding an Adhesin Subunit Protein of Helicobacter pylori. J.
Bact. 175: 674-83.
Other proteins, such as VacA (vacuolating cytotoxin) and CagA (function
unknown) are unique to the species also, but only 40-60% of strains make
each of these proteins (Someone can correct me if I'm wrong!). Other
unique proteins haven't been well studied yet; other proteins are
conserved in all bacteria such as flagellin, catalase, super oxide
dismutase, heat shock proteins, and fumarate reductase.
Thus if the above HpaA protein cannot be used, you may be limited in
what you can use until more genes/proteins are identified!
Good luck with developing your test!
David
David J. McGee
MCGEED at hal.hahnemann.edu
Graduate Student
McPHU (Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University)
Center City Campus
15th and Vine Streets
Dept. Microbiology and Immunology M.S. 410
New College Building RM 10302
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Phone: 215-762-8275
Fax: 215-762-1004
Happy 1995!
