Genetic competence in Helicobacter pylori: mechanisms and biological implications
D Hofreuter1, S Odenbreit, J Püls
1Max von Pettenkofer Institute for Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany.
Abstract:
Helicobacter pylori is naturally competent for genetic transformation. The comB locus, consisting of the open reading frames orf2, comB1, comB2, and comB3, is involved in natural transformation competence. Homologies of the ComB proteins with components of the type IV secretion apparatus (VirB9 and VirB10) from the Ti plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, as well as proteins involved in conjugation of plasmids RP1 and RP4, suggest a similar organization of DNA import (transformation) in H. pylori with well-known DNA export systems.
Related Concept Videos
Bacterial Transformation
Treating Helicobacter pylori in Peptic Ulcers: Antimicrobial Therapy
Mechanism of Conjugation
Peptic Ulcer
Gastritis II: Pathophysiology
Peptic Ulcer Disease II: Pathophysiology


