There is a strong association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and the occurrence of gastritis and gastric mucosal lymphoma in the human population. Vaccination is a viable preventive measure in light of the escalating issue of antibiotic resistance. The use of DNA vaccines presents a potentially effective approach. This study used the utilization of antigenic H. pylori urease E subunit (UreE) for the development of a DNA vaccine. The UreE gene was chemically cloned into pIRES2-DsRed-Express (pDNA), and PCR and restriction enzyme digestion verified the cloning. The immunogenicity and immune-protective efficacy of the vaccination were assessed in BALB/c mice. In contrast, blood samples from BALB/c mice inoculated with pDNA-UreE showed higher levels of IgG, IFN-γ, IL- 4, and IL- 17. Furthermore, stomach damage and bacterial loads were reduced, and BALB/c mice inoculated with pDNA-UreE exhibited a significant protection rate (87.5%) against the H. pylori challenge. pDNA-UreE generated a combination of Th1-Th2-Th17 immune responses, perhaps contributing to adequate protection. Based on our findings, using this DNA immunization as a preventive measure against H. pylori infection is a viable approach.
Keywords: Helicobacter pylori; DNA vaccine; Urease E subunit.
© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.