Patent ID: 7517666

Claim:
A method of selecting a test molecule for treating or preventing H. pylori infection in humans or animals comprising: (a) providing a UreI-positive Helicobacter biological sample at a neutral pH, wherein the biological sample contains UreI-positive Helicobacter; (b) providing a UreI-deficient Helicobacter biological sample at a neutral pH, wherein the biological sample contains UreI-deficient Helicobacter; (c) providing a UreI-positive Helicobacter biological sample at a second, reduced pH, wherein the biological sample contains UreI-positive Helicobacter in the presence of urea; (d) providing a UreI-deficient Helicobacter biological sample at a second, reduced pH, wherein the biological sample contains UreI-deficient Helicobacter in the presence of urea; (f) testing the growth or survival of the biological samples in the presence of a test molecule; and (g) selecting a test molecule that neither affects the growth or survival of the biological samples at a neutral pH, nor affects the growth or survival of the UreI-deficient biological sample at the second pH, but that does affect the growth or survival of the UreI-positive biological sample at the second pH.