The tag-A Gene and Methods for Detecting Predisposition to Peptic Ulceration and Gastric Carcinoma

Summary

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.

Patents

U.S. Patent 5,403,924: Tag-A gene and methods for detecting predisposition to peptic ulceration

U.S. Patent 5,733,740: Tag-A gene and methods for detecting predisposition to peptic ulceration and gastric carcinoma

U.S. Patent 5,876,943: Helicobacter Tag-A gene fusion protein