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STRATEGY FOR ULCER VACCINE SHOWS PROMISE

Researchers from Auburn University have developed a strategy that may lead to an effective vaccine against a common cause of ulcers.  They report their findings in the January 2003 issue of the journal Infection and Immunity.

Helicobacter pylori bacteria were first isolated in the early 1980s and have since been shown to be a common cause of peptic ulcers and are also associated with some types of stomach cancer.  Once identified, infections can be treated with antibiotics.  There is currently no vaccine.

In the study the researchers developed a nasal vaccine that completely protected mice from infection with Helicobacter felis, a relative of H. pylori.   H. felis infection in mice is currently accepted by researchers as a standard model for H. pylori vaccine development. 

While the results are promising, more studies still need to be done, say the researchers.

(W. Jiang, H.J. Baker and B.F. Smith.  2003.  Mucosal immunization with Helicobacter, CpG DNA, and cholera toxin is protective.  Infection and Immunity, 71: 40-46.)

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