Abstract
InHelicobacter pylori, a pathogenicity island (PAI) of approximately 40 kb, namedcag, is present in a subset of strains. The strains containing the PAI are more virulent than those that do not contain it, and are associated with peptic ulcer and gastric cancer. A putative secretory mechanism is encoded by this PAI. This secretory system is thought to be involved in the induction of the proiflammatory lymphokine IL-8 and tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins in the gastric cells. We are currently investigating the potential toxic factors exported or encoded by this region.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Censini S., Lange C., Xiang Z.Y., Crabtree J.E., Ghiara P., Borodovsky M., Rappuoli R., Covacci A.:cag, a pathogenicity island ofHelicobacter pylori, encodes type I-specific and disease-associated virulence factors.Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 93, 14648–14653 (1996).
Christie P.J.:Agrobacterium tumefaciens T-complex transport apparatus: a paradigm for a new family of multifunctional transporters in eubacteria.J. Bacteriol. 179, 3085–3094 (1997).
Covacci A., Censini S., Bugnoli M., Petracca R., Burroni D., Macchia G., Massone A., Papini E., Xiang Z.Y., Figura N., Rappuoli R.: Molecular characterization of the 128-kDa immunodominant antigen ofHelicobacter pylori associated with cytotoxicity and duodenal ulcer.Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA. 90, 5791–5795 (1993).
Covacci A., Falkow S., Berg D.E., Rappuoli R.: Did the inheritance of a pathogenicity island modify the virulence ofHelicobacter pylori? Trends Microbiol. 5, 205–208 (1997).
Crabtree J.E., Xiang Z., Lindley I.J.D., Tompkins D.S., Rappuoli R., Covacci A.: Induction of interleukin-8 secretion from gastric epithelial cells by acagA negative isogenic mutant ofHelicobacter pylori.J. Clin. Pathol. 48, 967–969 (1995).
Fullner K.J., Lara J.C., Nester E.W.: Pilus assembly byAgrobacterium T-DNA transfer genes.Science 273, 1107–1109 (1996).
Jiang, Q., Hiratsuka K., Taylor D.E.: Variability of gene order in differentHelicobacter pylori strains contributes to genome diversity.Mol. Microbiol. 20, 833–842 (1996).
Marchetti M., Aricò B., Burroni D., Figura N., Rappuoli R., Ghiara P.: Development of a mouse model ofHelicobacter pylori i infection that mimics human disease.Science 267, 1655–1658 (1995).
Salmond G.P.C.: Secretion of extracellular virulence factors by plant pathogenic bacteria.Ann. Rev. Phytopathol. 32, 181–200 (1994).
Segal E.D., Lange C., Covacci A., Tompkins L.S., Falkow S.: Induction of host signal transduction pathways byHelicobacter pylori.Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA. 94, 7595–7599 (1997).
Telford J.L., Ghiara P., Dell'Orco M., Comanducci M., Burroni D., Bugnoli M., Tecce M.F., Censini S., Covacci A., Xiang Z., Papini E., Montecucco C., Parente L., Rappuoli R.: Gene structure of theHelicobacter pylori cytotoxin and evidence of its key role in gastric disease.J. Exp. Med. 179, 1653–1658 (1994).
Tummuru M.K.R., Sharma S.A., Blaser M.J.:Helicobacter pylori picB, a homologue of theBordetella pertussis toxin secretion protein, is required for induction of IL-8 in gastric epithelial cells.Mol. Microbiol. 18, 867–876 (1995).
Weel J.F., van der Hulst R.W., Gerrits Y., Roorda P., Feller M., Dankert J., Tytgat G.N., van der Ende A.: The interrelationship between cytotoxin-asscoiated gene A, vacuolating cytotoxin, andHelicobacter pylori-related diseases.J. Infect. Dis. 173, 1171–1175 (1996).
Winans S.C., Burns D., Christie P.J.: Adaptation of a conjugal transfer system for the export of pathogenic macromolecules.Trends Microbiol. 4, 64–68 (1996).
Xiang Z.Y., Censini S., Bayeli P.F., Telford J.L., Figura N., Rappuoli R., Covacci A.: Analysis of expression of CagA and VacA virulence factors in 43 strains ofHelicobacter pylori reveals that clinical isolates can be divided into two major types and that CagA is not necessary for expression of the vacuolating cytotoxin.Infect. Immun. 63, 94–98 (1995).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rappuoli, R., Lange, C., Censini, S. et al. Pathogenicity island mediatesHelicobacter pylori interaction with the host. Folia Microbiol 43, 275–278 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02818612
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02818612