Helicobacter pylori is a spiral shaped bacterium that lives in the stomach. It has a unique way of adapting to the harsh, acidic gastric environment. It has been studied rather extensively and believed by many in the medical community to play an important role in the development of gastritis and peptic ulcers. Consequently, there has been a fundamental shift in mainstream ulcer care from the widespread use of antacids (which temporarily alleviated some symptoms, but did nothing to address the root cause of the problem) to the "treatment" of gastritis and ulcers with potent antibiotics intended to kill H. pylori. H. pyloriproduces peptic ulcers by weakening the protective mucous coating of the stomach and duodenum, which allowed acid to get through to the sensitive lining beneath. Both the acid and the bacteria irritate the lining and cause a sore, or ulcer. H. pylori is able to survive in stomach acid because it secretes enzymes that neutralize the acid. This mechanism allows H. pylori to make its way to the "safe" area—the protective mucous lining. Once there, the bacterium¿s spiral shape helps it burrow through the lining. It is not clear why only a fraction of infected patients become symptomatic for the disease while others do not. It is believed that the bacteria are spread from individual to individual by fecal to oral or oral to oral route.
Several diagnostic tests for H pylori infection have been developed over the past several years, including breath test, blood and stool. Tissue test are done by taking a biopsy and examining the formation of urea produced by the bacteria, a culture or by actually staining the bacteria using antibodies to the bacteria coat proteins. FabGennix has produced antibodies to H. pylori bacteria core protein antigens. The binding of H pylori to MHC class II receptors in gastric epithelial cells led to increased activity of caspases and apoptosis (1). H pylori infections are also associated with iron deficiency and anemia. H pylori infection has been manifested in a number of vascular disorder including heart disease.
FabGennix Int. Inc., has produced anti-Halicobacter pylori antibodies using denatured whole bacteria. The H. pylori selective antibodies are affinity purified against immobilized antigen based affinity chromatography which yielded epitope-specific antibodies. The H pylori antibodies label the bacteria on fixed and frozen sections. Anti-H pylori-selective antibodies are also available in enzyme and fluorescent dye conjugated form for immunohistochemistry applications. FabGennix Inc. will conjugate antibodies with other fluorescent probes upon request at extra charge. Limited quantities of heat killed and denatured bacterial exptracts are also available for immunodepletion assays
For research use only, not for diagnostic or therapeutic use.
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