Generation of a monoclonal antibody to a defined portion of the Helicobacter pylori vacuolating cytotoxin by DNA immunization.

The capacity of mammalian cells to express proteins encoded by plasmid vectors injected as naked DNA has opened the possibility to induce an immune response against protein antigens by DNA vaccination. We have used DNA immunization to generate a strong antibody response to a defined portion of the Helicobacter pylori vacuolating cytotoxin. A high specific monoclonal antibody has been derived from the splenocytes of an immunized mouse. Our data show that DNA immunization offers the possibility to obtain monoclonal antibodies following a significant shortcut with respect to traditional immunization protocols.