[Using polymerase chain reaction to detect Helicobacter heilmannii in gastric biopsy materials]

Helicobacter heilmannii is one of the species of Helicobacter other than Helicobacter pylori noticed in human gastric mucosa. In our study, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was designed for the detection of Helicobacter heilmannii in gastric biopsy specimens. Two broad-range bacterial 16S rDNA primers and one Helicobacter genus-specific 16S rDNA primer were matched for detecting Helicobacter genus bacteria. A Hp-specific primer pair was used simultaneously to exclude the presence of Hp. The PCR assay detected 11 out of 12 Hh strains which were confirmed by smears, but did not amplify DNA extracts from some other enteric bacteria such as E. coli, C. jejuni, bifidobacteria. Serial dilution experiments revealed the detection of as little as 0.1 pg DNA by PCR and 0.01 pg by nested PCR. Our data showed that PCR is a rapid, accurate and sensitive method for the detection of Hh and is thought valuable in the epidemiological investigation of Helicobacter and follow-up studies after treatment.