Pathogenicity island mediates Helicobacter pylori interaction with the host
R Rappuoli1, C Lange, S Censini
1IRIS, Chiron S.p.A., Siena, Italy. Rappuoli@IRIS02.Biocine.IT
Abstract:
In Helicobacter pylori, a pathogenicity island (PAI) of approximately 40 kb, named cag, 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 by this region.
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