Helicobacter pylori utilizes DNA shuffling to modulate the gastric inflammatory response. (July 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pham, Kieu Thuy; Fischer, Wolfgang
• Is Part Of: Future microbiology. Volume 8:Number 7(2013:Jul.)
• Page Start: 835
• Page End: 838
• Publication Date: 2013-07
• Subjects: animal model -- Helicobacter pylori -- inflammation -- rhesus macaque -- type IV secretion; Microbiology -- Research -- Periodicals; 616.9041
• DOI: 10.2217/fmb.13.55
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1746-0913

Abstract

Evaluation of: Barrozo RM, Cooke CL, Hansen LM et al. Functional plasticity in the type IV secretion system of Helicobacter pylori. PLoS Pathog. 9(2), e1003189 (2013) . Infections with the human gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori are among the most common infections worldwide, causing a significant burden of disease due to their association with gastric carcinogenesis. A hallmark of acute and chronic H. pylori infection is intense inflammation in the gastric submucosa, which is strongly enhanced by the activity of a major bacterial virulence factor, the cytotoxin-associated gene (Cag)-type IV secretion system (T4SS). Despite intense research in recent years, the molecular mechanisms leading to proinflammatory signaling by the Cag-T4SS are only partly understood. Barrozo et al. now show that this proinflammatory capability of H. pylori can be reduced or increased in vivo by recombination events in a particular repeat region of the T4SS component CagY, and that lymphocytes are the main driving force triggering such events. The results highlight the mutual interplay between a major bacterial virulence factor and the immune system and might aid in understanding bacterial persistence.