Helicobacter pylori has emerged as one the world s most common infections and a major cause of morbidity, but little is known about the health impact of acute infection. The PI postulates that the temporary gastric hypoacidity that accompanies acute H.pylori infection increases the risk of diarrheal illness and failure to thrive in newly infected children. As initial test of this hypothesis, the PI will analyze previously collected data from a community cohort study of children in Lima, Peru. In order to confirm that gastric hypoacidity is the causal mechanism linking H.pylori infection to diarrheal disease, a novel assay-the quininium resin test--will be adapted and validated for use in children. This test will become a key component of a prospective cohort study designed to demonstrate that acute H.pylori infection leads to concurrent gastric achlorhydria and increased rates of diarrheal disease. This work will increase appreciation of the disease burden mused by H.pylori and could hasten development of an effective vaccine. It should also help to define the clinical syndrome of acute H.pylori infection.
Specific aims of this project are: 1. To modify and validate assays for H.pylori infection for use in children, including serum IgG and IgM tests and a stool fecal antigen test. 2. To modify and validate the quininium exchange resin test for gastric hypochlorhydria. 3. To apply these assays in field studies to detect acute H.pylori infection and to determine the prevalence of gastric hypochlorhydria among acutely infected children. 4. To determine whether acute H.pylori infection is accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms and to determine whether H.pylori infection leads to growth retardation or increases in diarrheal illness. The PI is a clinician and researcher with a career interest in the epidemiology of poorly understood infectious diseases. The PI's Immediate goal is to develop into a independent investigator specializing in translating laboratory diagnostics for use in fieldwork and in characterizing disease mechanisms that underlie the epidemiology of emerging pathogens. The PI's background in international health and epidemiology are ideally suited to conducting the proposed research plan and demonstrate a commitment to academic medicine. The career development plan detailed in this proposal solidifies the PI's prior training experiences while helping him to obtain rigorous training in conducting field trials and in developing expertise in the use of patient-oriented research to adapt diagnostic techniques for widespread use.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Project #
5K23AI001602-05
Application #
6510026
Study Section
Microbiology and Infectious Diseases B Subcommittee (MID)
Program Officer
Taylor, Katherine A
Project Start
1999-05-01
Project End
2004-04-30
Budget Start
2003-05-01
Budget End
2004-04-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$118,935
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Illinois at Chicago
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
098987217
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60612
Passaro, D J; Hurwitz, A; Triadafilopoulos, G et al. (2002) A modification of the quininium resin test for assessing gastric acidity. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 16:875-80
Passaro, Douglas J; Taylor, David N; Gilman, Robert H et al. (2002) Growth slowing after acute Helicobacter pylori infection is age-dependent. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 35:522-6
Passaro, D J; Taylor, D N; Meza, R et al. (2001) Acute Helicobacter pylori infection is followed by an increase in diarrheal disease among Peruvian children. Pediatrics 108:E87