New vaccination strategy against Helicobacter pylori

The colonization of the human stomach with Helicobacter pylori represents one of the most common infectious diseases that affects 50% of the world’s population. H. pylori infection plays a causative role in the development of chronic gastritis and cancer. Although the infection elicits a strong inflammatory response, the bacterium cannot be cleared by the immune system, and establishes a persistent infection due to potent immune evasion mechanisms. In the era of rising antibiotic resistances targeting these factors by vaccination is a promising strategy to treat H. pylori.

We previously described H. pylori gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (HPgGT) as an immune evasion factor that impairs T-lymphocyte proliferation. Our newly developed vaccine (IMX101) contains recombinant HPgGT combined with the H. pylorisurface protein adhesion A (HpaA), both administered via the mucosal and systemic routes in combination with a potent mucosal adjuvant.

Immunization of H. pylori infected mice elicits a strong humoral immune response leading to inactivation of HPgGT. Concomitantly, a cellular immune response is generated against the bacterial surface, reducing bacterial load within the stomach.

IMX101 represents an innovative vaccination approach that addresses the immune evasion mechanism of H. pylori. The preclinical results are highly promising, especially with regard to the increasing antibiotic resistances.