PCR and RFLP analysis for identification and typing of Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from gastric biopsy specimens.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is the most common gastrointestinal tract infection which plays an important role in the ethiopathogenesis of peptic ulcer and gastritis. In recent years, molecular biological methods have been presented for detection of H. pylori in addition to histopathological and microbiological methods. Among these methods, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and following restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses (RFLP) are highly sensitive methods for diagnosis and follow up of patients. In this present study our aim was to amplify H. pylori urease A and B genes by PCR and perform RFLP analysis. Gastric biopsy specimens from 17 female and 18 male patients were included in the study. Amplified PCR products were subjected to RFLP analysis and typing of the bacteria in pre and posttreatment specimens were performed. H. pylori urease A and B gene amplification was observed in 32 pretreatment samples and in 8 of 21 posttreatment specimens. As a result, PCR is a sensitive method to determine the H. pylori infection. RFLP, which is another effective method in order to demonstrate the reinfection of H. pylori.