Problems in assaying neutrophil activators

Abstract

Response from Leakey et al.In response to the comments of Dundon et al., we would like to address several important issues relating to our study. Although our results provide evidence that variations in the expression and sequence of Helicobacter pylori neutrophil-activating protein (HP-NAP) are not related to the ability of different H. pylori strains to activate neutrophils 1xThe ability of Helicobacter pylori to activate neutrophils is determined by factors other than H. pylori neutrophil-activating protein. Leakey, A. et al. J. Infect. Dis. 2000; 182: 1749–1755Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (15)See all References1, this observation does not preclude the antigen from being an excellent candidate for vaccine development. In fact, our finding of limited inter-strain variation should add weight to the proposal that HP-NAP is an antigen likely to provide protection against all strains of H. pylori. However, from the results of our study, we cannot agree that the observation that HP-NAP might be a good vaccine antigen automatically determines that it is ‘an important virulence factor’ 2xThe neutrophil-activating protein (HP-NAP) of Helicobacter pylori is a protective antigen and a major virulence factor. Satin, B. et al. J. Exp. Med. 2000; 191: 1467–1476Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (208)See all References, 3xThe design of vaccines against Helicobacter pylori and their development. Del Giudice, G. et al. Annu. Rev. Immunol. 2001; 19: 523–563Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (172)See all References, especially when compared directly with the strong relationships between apparent peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and several H. pylori determinants, including the vacuolating cytotoxin 1xThe ability of Helicobacter pylori to activate neutrophils is determined by factors other than H. pylori neutrophil-activating protein. Leakey, A. et al. J. Infect. Dis. 2000; 182: 1749–1755Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (15)See all