[Anti-Hp antibody may vary with strain used as antigen possibly due to serological diversity]

Western blotting and ELISA techniques have been used to investigate antigen specificity of systemic responses. Immunoblotting studies demonstrate several major protein antigens that are detected most sera. H. pylori immunoblotting studies using rabbit hyperimmune sera identify several distinct strains. Seven monoclonal antibodies which are prepared in our laboratory recognize 33-35 kDa and 66 kDa of H. pylori. ELISA studies using the monoclonal antibody reveals considerable antigenic diversity among H. pylori strains. Serotyping of clinically isolated H. pylori Seems to be useful in clarifying the etiological roles of this bacteria. In spite of studies by several investigators, serotyping of H. pylori has not been established yet. Our studies suggest that H. pylori need to be further subdivided serologically.