Structure of cag pathogenicity island in Japanese Helicobacter pylori isolates.

ABSTRACT:

Background

cag pathogenicity island (PAI) is reported to be a major virulence factor of Helicobacter pylori.

Aim

To characterise cagA and the cag PAI in Japanese H pylori strains.

Methods

H pylori isolates from Japanese patients were evaluated for CagA by immunoblot, for cagA transcription by northern blot, and for cagA and 13 other cag PAI genes by Southern blot. cagA negative strains from Western countries were also studied. Induction of interleukin-8 secretion from gastric epithelial cells was also investigated.

Results

All Japanese strains retained cagA. Fifty nine of 63 (94%) strains had all the cag PAI genes. In the remaining four, cag PAI was partially deleted, lacking cagA transcripts and not producing CagA protein. Details of the PAI of these strains w

SUBMITTER: Maeda S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1727424 | biostudies-literature | 1999 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature