Naturally acquired human immune responses againstHelicobacter pylori and implications for vaccine development

Naturally acquired human immune responses against Helicobacter pylori and implications for vaccine developmentPreface Helicobacter pylori has been identified as a causative agent of gastroduodenal pathology.Vaccination studies with mouse models have shown that immunisation with bacterial antigens can provide protection against infection, indicating that it may be possible to design vaccines which terminate colonisation by H pylori or prevent it from taking place.Here, we review critically current knowledge of naturally acquired human humoral and cellular immune responses to H pylori with the aim of delineating questions which should be tackled in order to permit a rational and directed approach to the development of an eVective vaccine.We have also reviewed the literature and identified candidate vaccine antigens.