Growth inhibition of Helicobacter pylori by monoclonal antibody to heat- shock protein 60

Abstract

The H20mAb recognizing the 60-kilodalton protein, which existed in the outer membrane and was induced by heat shock at 42 C, was established. The molecule recognized with the mAb was a heat-shock protein 60 (HSP60) of Helicobacter pylori. To understand the role of HSP60 on the cell surface of H. pylori, whether or not H20mAb affects the growth of H. pylori was investigated. When bacteria were cultured with H20mAb, growth was markedly inhibited after 24 hr, although an initial 5 hr-incubation with the mAb induced no significant inhibition of H. pylori growth. The 24- and 48 hr growth of the bacteria after washing to remove the mAb at 5 hr was also inhibited though the inhibitory effect was not strong. In electron microscopical analysis, the spots with high electron density in the cytoplasm of the bacteria treated with H20mAb were increased, depending on the length of incubation time from 5 to 24 hr. After 24 hr treatment with H20mAb, bacterial destruction was also observed, indicating bactericidal activity by H20mAb. These results suggest that the HSP60 on the cell surface of H. pylori might have an essential role in the growth of the bacteria.