Vanderbilt University

Oravax, Inc.

Murali K Tummuru

Martin J Blaser

Timothy L Cover

Harry Kleanthous

Smita A Sharma

The present invention provides an isolated nucleic acid encoding an approximately 120-128 kilodalton antigen of Helicobacter pylori, or an antigenic fragment thereof, wherein the antigen is associated with peptic ulceration. The present invention also provides methods of detecting the presence of a Helicobacter pylori strain possessing the 120-128 kilodalton antigen in a subject, comprising the steps of contacting an antibody-containing sample from the subject with a detectable amount of the tagA antigen or antigenic polypeptide of the present invention and detecting the binding of the antigen or fragment and the antibody. The detection of a strain expressing the TagA antigen is an indication of predisposition to peptic ulceration and gastric carcinoma. A mutant H. pylori not expressing a functional TagA antigen is also provided.

TagA gene and methods for detecting predisposition to peptic ulceration

Helicobacter TagA gene fusion protein

An isolated nucleic acid encoding an approximately 120-128 kilodalton antigen of Helicobacter pylori, or an antigenic fragment thereof, wherein the antigen is associated with peptic ulceration. The present invention also provides methods of detecting the presence of a Helicobacter pylori strain possessing the 120-128 kilodalton antigen in a subject, comprising the steps of contacting an antibody-containing sample from the subject with a detectable amount of the tagA antigen or antigenic polypeptide of the present invention and detecting the binding of the antigen or fragment and the antibody. The detection of a strain expressing the TagA antigen is an indication of predisposition to peptic ulceration and gastric carcinoma. A mutant H. pylori not expressing a functional TagA antigen is also provided.

Taga gene and methods for detecting predisposition to peptic ulceration

A cagB gene of H. pylori is provided. This nucleic acid can be the nucleic acid consisting of nucleotides 193 through 1158 in the sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:1, which is an example of a native coding sequence for CagB. This nucleic acid can also be in a vector suitable for expressing a polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid. A cagC gene of H. pylori is provided. This nucleic acid can be the isolated nucleic acid consisting of nucleotides 1170 through 3830 in the sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:3, which is an example of a native coding sequence for CagC. This nucleic acid can also be in a vector suitable for expressing a polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid. Isolated nucleic acids that specifically hybridize with cagB and cagC are provided. CagB and CagC are associated with peptic ulceration and other clinical syndromes in humans infected with strains of H. pylori that express it.

CagB and CagC genes of helicobacter pylori and related compositions

The present invention provides an isolated nucleic acid encoding an approximately 120-128 kilodalton antigen of Helicobacter pylori, or an antigenic fragment thereof, wherein the antigen is associated with peptic ulceration. The present invention also provides methods of detecting the presence of a Helicobacter pylori strain possessing the 120-128 kilodalton antigen in a subject, comprising the steps of contacting an antibody-containing sample from the subject with a detectable amount of the tagA antigen or antigenic fragment of the present invention and detecting the reaction of the antigen or fragment and the antibody. A mutant H. pylori not expressing a functional tagA antigen is also provided.

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Nashville, TN, United States of America

Murali K Tummuru