Molecular typing of Helicobacter pylori by chromosomal and plasmid DNA organization.

Diverse strains of Helicobacter pylori were examined in order to initiate a molecular epidemiological typing scheme for this agent of human gastritis. Twelve differently-sized plasmids from 1.8 to 63 kbp were identified in those strains harbouring extrachromosomal DNA. Recombinant DNA probes were cloned randomly from the chromosome of the (plasmid-free) type strain (NCTC 11637), and used to probe genomic Southern blots for restriction site variation in and around homologous loci. Genus-specific probe DNAs were obtained which grouped strains on the bases of DNA base substitution or rearrangements. On the basis of the four probes examined, all strains exhibited intraspecific chromosomal divergence, indicating that H. pylori is highly diverse genetically, but nonetheless susceptible to chromosome and plasmid molecular typing.