Identification of Helicobacter pylori Strain cagPAI+ and cagPAI− Antigens by IgG Antibodies from Sera of Experimentally Colonized Meriones unguiculatus (Mongolian gerbils)

• Published in: Helicobacter (Cambridge, Mass.) Mass.), 2011-06, Vol.16 (3), p.200-209
• Main Authors: Zárate-Aquino, Carmen, Torres-Marcial, Jaime, Ortiz-Herrera, Maribel, Romero-Ramírez, Héctor, Santos-Argumedo, Leopoldo, López-Corella, Eduardo, Coria-Jiménez, Rafael
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Bacterial - blood; Antibodies, Bacterial - immunology; antigen identification; Antigens, Bacterial - chemistry; Antigens, Bacterial - immunology; Blotting, Western; cagPAI; Chronic infection; Colonization; Disease Models, Animal; Genomic Islands; Gerbillinae; Helicobacter Infections - immunology; Helicobacter Infections - microbiology; Helicobacter pylori; Helicobacter pylori - chemistry; Helicobacter pylori - immunology; Helicobacter pylori - physiology; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Immunoglobulin G - immunology; Inflammation; Male; Meriones unguiculatus; Molecular Weight; Mongolian gerbils; Rabbits; Western blotting
• ISSN: 1083-4389; 1523-5378
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-5378.2011.00831.x

Background:  Mongolian gerbils that are experimentally infected with Helicobacter pylori develop a chronic inflammation that is similar to natural infections in humans. The aim of this study was to compare the antigens of H. pylori cagPAI+ and cagPAI− strains that are expressed during Meriones unguiculatus colonization. Materials and Methods:  We identified H. pylori cagPAI+ and cagPAI− strain antigens via Western blotting of samples from Mongolian gerbils that were subjected to unique, mixed, and sequential bacterial infections. Results:  The antigens from the J99/CG3 (cagPAI+) strain had a lower molecular weight than the antigens from the 251F/CG3 (cagPAI−) strain. There were fewer identified antigens in the single unique infections compared with the mixed and sequential infections. The number of recognized antigens that had a frequency of recognition >60% was higher for the simultaneous and sequential infection groups compared with the single infection group. A 57‐kDa antigen was present in >60% of the samples and four of the five experimental groups. Antigens specific to each bacterial strain were identified; the 190‐ and 158‐kDa antigens appear to be specific for cagPAI−, and the 70‐kDa antigen appears to be specific for cagPAI+. Conclusions:  In this study, we identified antigens that are common and specific to the H. pylori cagPAI+ and cagPAI− strains.