Binding of the Helicobacter pylori vacuolating cytotoxin to target cells

The vacuolating cytotoxin of Helicobacter pylori, VacA, enters the cytoplasm of target cells and causes vacuolar degeneration by interfering with late stages of endocytosis. By using indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometry, we have demonstrated that VacA binds to specific high-affinity cell surface receptors and that this interaction is necessary for cell intoxication.