Antigen profile of Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from peptic ulcer patients in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The whole-cell-extract and the acid-extract preparations of Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from peptic ulcer patients and the NCTC 11638 control strain were studied to compare their antigen profiles. Besides, the anti-H. pylori-antibody profile in serum from H. pylori-infected peptic ulcer patients were also studied to define the antigen stimulating specific anti-H. pylori-antibody response in the infected patients. The whole-cell extract (WCE) and the acid-extract (AE) preparations showed a general antigenic homogeneity among the H. pylori strains isolated from the patients and the NCTC 11638 control strain. A humoral immune response against the infecting organism was observed and three antigenic bands of approximate molecular masses of 61 kDa, 58 kDa and 24 kDa were recognized by all the tested sera. Those bands were found to be unique for H. pylori and did not show any cross reaction with the Campylobacter jejuni antigenic bands. This makes them a candidate for the specific antigens required to develop a specific serological diagnostic test. Further purification and characterization of the protein bands may be carried out to define their probable diagnostic or immuno-pathogenic role.