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- Title
The vacuolating cytotoxin of Helicobacter pylori.
- Authors
Cover, T L
- Abstract
Helicobacter pylori, the causative agent of chronic superficial gastritis and duodenal ulcer disease in humans, produces a unique cytotoxin (VacA) that induces cytoplasmic vacuolation in eukaryotic cells. The structural organization and processing of the vacuolating cytotoxin are characteristic of a family of proteins exemplified by Neisseria gonorrhoeae IgA protease. Although only 50% of H. pylori isolates produce detectable cytotoxin activity in vitro, vacA homologues are present in virtually all isolates. Several families of vacA alleles have been identified, and there is a strong correlation between presence of specific vacA genotypes, cytotoxin activity, and peptic ulceration. Experiments in a mouse model of H. pylori-induced gastric damage indicate that the cytotoxin plays an important role in inducing gastric epithelial necrosis.
- Publication
Molecular microbiology, 1996, Vol 20, Issue 2, p241
- ISSN
0950-382X
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2958.1996.tb02612.x