Role of western blotting in serological diagnosis of helicobacter pylori infection

ABSTRACT

Background: Helicobacter pylori [H.pylori ] is the key pathogen for gastroduodenal diseases. The clinical outcome of H.pylori infection is influenced by the presence of strain-specific virulence factors that are usually detected by the presence of specific anti-H.pylori antibodies in serum. Apart from the detection of these antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA], it is desirable to obtain additional information concerning the presence of certain virulence factors of H.pylori that could be detected by immunoblot analysis: