[Helicobacter pylori and molecular biology--virulence, diagnosis and vaccine development]

The discovery of H. pylori as the etiologic agent of chronic antral type B gastritis and the finding that H.pylori is involved in the pathogenesis of gastroduodenal ulcer disease and gastric carcinoma have triggered intensive research about this organism. After overcoming considerable initial difficulties, researchers succeeded in adapting the instruments of molecular biology to the study of this highly fastidious organism. This has led to a rapid increase of knowledge concerning the basis of H.pylori virulence (as well as that of the related animal pathogens H. mustelae and H. felis) and to the development of molecular methods for the purposes of diagnosis and epidemiological research. The latest application of molecular biology in this area is the use of recombinant proteins for the development of an H.pylori vaccine. This review gives an overview of this rapidly developing field.