IntroductionStomach colonization by Helicobacter pylori is associated with gastritis, gastric ulcers, gastric adenocarcinoma, and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (1). Treatment of H. pylori infections consists of combination therapy involving two or three antibiotics, plus a proton pump inhibitor (2-4). However, the rate of unsuccessful eradication due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains is growing (5,6). Furthermore, in regions with high rates of H. pylori infection, recurrent infection is more frequent (7). Hence, prevention would be an ideal strategy to resolve the problems associated with H. pylori infections, especially in regions with a high incidence of infection (8).Adherence to the gastric mucosa is the first step in successful colonization of the stomach by H. pylori, and among the bacterial factors essential for specific attachment to gastric epithelial cells, the outer membrane proteins (OMPs) play an important role (9). Background/aim: Outer inflammatory protein A (OipA) is an important adhesin of Helicobacter pylori. Our goal was to assess the role of OipA in protection of C57BL/6 mice against H. pylori.Materials and methods: C57BL/6 mice were mucosally immunized with recombinant OipA protein, OipA + propolis, propolis, and phosphate-buffered saline. After vaccination, anti-OipA IgA was measured. Mice were challenged three times with 5 × 10 7 CFU of the H. pylori B19 strain. Two weeks later, bacterial colonization and inflammation in the stomach was analyzed using standard methods.
Results:The CFU number in the OipA group was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that of the control. The CFU number in the OipA + propolis group was higher than those of the OipA and propolis groups. IgA titers were significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in the OipA group compared to the control and OipA + propolis groups. Propolis did not play an adjuvant effect but it interfered with the efficient vaccine effect of OipA.
Conclusion:Results show the effect of vaccination by OipA in protection of the mouse model and the importance of OipA in H. pylori pathogenesis. OipA may be proposed as a suitable oral vaccine candidate against H. pylori infection; however, further study is required to determine adjuvant or adverse effects of propolis toward OipA.