Detection of a Helicobacter pylori Gene Marker in Gastric Biopsy Samples by Non-radioactive in situ Hybridization

Abstract

The presence of H. pylori was examined by non-radioactive in situ hybridization using a digoxigenin-labelled DNA probe and a synthetic H. pylori urease gene-specific thymine-thymine dimerized oligonucleotide probe. H. pylori was detected in 20/33 gastric biopsy specimens, and was localized in gastric epithelia and neutrophils. No nonspecific DNA signal was detected in colonic mucosa, esophageal mucosa, skin and liver specimens. The DNA probe did not crosshybridize with DNA from other bacteria. As this method is specific and not time-consuming, it may be useful for revealing the location of H. pylori.