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World J Gastroenterol. May 14, 2007; 13(18): 2581-2585
Published online May 14, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i18.2581
H pylori iceA alleles are disease-specific virulence factors
Vildan Caner, Mustafa Yilmaz, Nadir Yonetci, Sevil Zencir, Nedim Karagenc, Ilknur Kaleli, Huseyin Bagci
Vildan Caner, Sevil Zencir, Nedim Karagenc, Huseyin Bagci, Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, Pamukkale University, 20020, Kinikli, Denizli, Turkey
Mustafa Yilmaz, Nadir Yonetci, Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Pamukkale University, 20020, Kinikli, Denizli, Turkey
Ilknur Kaleli, Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Pamukkale University, 20020, Kinikli, Denizli, Turkey
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by a grant from Turkish Goverment State Planning Organization, No. DPT-2003K120950
Correspondence to: Vildan Caner, DVM, PhD, Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, Pamukkale University, 20020, Kinikli, Denizli, Turkey. vildancaner@yahoo.com
Telephone: +90-258-2952494 Fax: +90-258-2952443
Received: February 9, 2007
Revised: February 11, 2007
Accepted: March 26, 2007
Published online: May 14, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To characterize and compare genotype profiles of H pylori strains isolated from patients with chronic gastritis and duodenal ulcer in western part of Turkey.

METHODS: A total of 46 patients [30 chronic gastritis (CG) and 16 duodenal ulcer (DU)] who had undergone endoscopy because of dyspeptic complaints were studied. The antral biopsy specimens were evaluated for the presence of H pylori by rapid urease test and culture, and the genotype profiles were determined by real-time PCR.

RESULTS: The cagA gene was observed in 43 (93.5%) isolates. The vacA s1m2 genotype was the predominant subtype, found in 63.3% and 68.7% of isolates in patients with CG and DU, respectively. Twenty (66.6%) isolates from patients with CG were iceA2 positive while the iceA1 was predominant in those with DU (68.8%). In terms of the association of the iceA alleles to other genes, both alleles were significantly associated with the cagA vacA s1m2 genotype.

CONCLUSION: The prevalent circulating genotypes in CG and DU were cagA vacA s1m2 iceA2 and cagA vacA s1m2 iceA1 genotype, respectively. It was found that cagA vacA s1m2 genotype seems to be common virulence factors in both CG and DU while iceA alleles show specificity for gastroduodenal pathologies in this study.

Keywords: H pylori; Virulence genes; Culture; Real-time PCR