Lewis antigen expression by Helicobacter pylori strains colonizing different regions of the stomach of individual patients.

The diversity in the expression of Lewis antigens (Le) of 226 single colonies of Helicobacter pylori isolated from four regions of the stomach of eight adults is shown. Le(y) was expressed more in strains colonizing antrum than in strains colonizing fundus, whereas Le(x) was more common in fundus strains. cagA(+) strains were more associated with Le-negative strains.