Ateneo scientists research potential vaccine to end stomach ulcers

Scientists from Ateneo de Manila University are researching a potential vaccine that could stop Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) — the bacterium responsible for most ulcer cases—before it causes damage, using cutting-edge immunoinformatics technology to design a new line of defense for millions at risk worldwide.

- By MERLINA HERNANDO-MALIPOT

The Ateneo research team from the School of Science and Engineering’s Department of Biology—composed of Demy Valerie Chacon, Kiana Alika Co, Daphne Noreen Enriquez, Aubrey Love Labarda, Reanne Eden Manongsong, and Edward Kevin Bragais—is leveragingimmunoinformatics, acutting-edge approach thatmerges computer science ‘with immunology.

Using advanced software and computational models, the scientists analyzed how the human immune system interacts with various proteins produced by H. pylori.