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To identify the Helicobacter pylori antigens operating during early infection in sera from infected infants using proteomics and immunoblot analysis. Two-dimensional (2D) large and small gel electrophoresis was performed using H. pylori strain 51. We performed 2D immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin A (IgA), and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody immunoblotting using small gels on sera collected at the Gyeongsang National University Hospital from 4–11-month-old infants confirmed with H. pylori infection by pre-embedding immunoelectron microscopy. Immunoblot spots appearing to represent early infection markers in infant sera were compared to those of the large 2D gel for H. pylori strain 51. Corresponding spots were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The peptide fingerprints obtained were searched in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database. Eight infant patients were confirmed with H. pylori infection based on urease tests, histopathologic examinations, and pre-embedding immunoelectron microscopy. One infant showed a 2D IgM immunoblot pattern that seemed to represent early infection. Immunoblot spots were compared with those from whole-cell extracts of H. pylori strain 51 and 18 spots were excised, digested in gel, and analyzed by MALDI-TOF-MS. Of the 10 peptide fingerprints obtained, the H. pylori proteins flagellin A (FlaA), urease β subunit (UreB), pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase (POR), and translation elongation factor Ts (EF-Ts) were identified and appeared to be active during the early infection periods. These results might aid identification of serological markers for the serodiagnosis of early H. pylori infection in infants., Graphical Abstract

Background/Aims: The standard guideline for the management Helicobacter pylori infection in Korean children is not present until now. In present study, we conducted the questionnaire survey to investigate the real situation of H. pylori eradication in children. Materials and Methods: Questionnaire concerning the indications of H. pylori eradication, the first choice of treatment modality, the decision method of eradication result, experience of eradication failure, the second choice of treatment modality was sent to doctors who are members of the Korean Society for Pediatric Gastorenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition. Results: A total of 28 doctors (90.3%) answered the questionnaires among 31 doctors. The most common indication for eradication of H. pylori was peptic ulcer (n=24) followed by chronic abdominal pain (n=17) and positive family history of gastric cancer (n=12). The most common choice of first-line eradication therapy was omeprazole, amoxicillin, clarithromycin triple therapy (n=21) and followed by bismuth subsalicylate, amoxicillin, metronidazole, clarithromycin quadruple therapy (n=7). The results of treatment were judged by C¹³-urea breath test after 2 months later in 19 doctors (67.8%). Twenty four (85.7%) out of 28 doctors had experienced treatment failure. The most common second-line therapy was the sequential therapy (58.3%, 14 doctors among 24). Conclusions: This was the first study for the survey of the treatment of H. pylori infection to Korean pediatricians. The results of this study showed that most pediatric gastroenterologists used to treat H. pylori infection according to the textbook and the common use of bismuth-based quadruple therapy for the first-line treatment was notable.