Purification and characterization of protein methylase II from Helicobacter pylori

Protein methylase II (AdoMet:protein-carboxyl O-methyltransferase, EC 2.1.1.24) was identified and purified 115-fold from Helicobacter pylori through Q-Sepharose ion exchange column, AdoHcy-Sepharose 4B column, and Superdex 200 HR column chromatography using FPLC. The purified preparation showed two protein bands of about 78 kDa and 29 kDa molecular mass on SDS-PAGE. On non-denaturing gel electrophoresis, the enzyme migrated as a single band with a molecular mass of 410 kDa. In addition, MALDI-TOF-MS analysis and Superdex 200 HR column chromatography of the purified enzyme showed a major mass signal with molecular mass values of 425 kDa and 430 kDa, respectively. Therefore, the above results led us to suggest that protein methylase II purified from H. pylori is composed of four heterodimers with 425 kDa (4x(78+29)=428 kDa). This magnitude of molecular mass is unusual for protein methylases II so far reported. The enzyme has an optimal pH of 6.0, a K(m) value of 5.0x10(-6) M for S-adenosyl-L-methionine and a V(max) of 205 pmol methyl-(14)C transferred min(-1) mg(-1) protein.     

Identification of a new segment involved in cagA 3' region variation of Helicobacter pylori

The cagA 3' region shows marked variation among Helicobacter pylori strains. Two segments of 102 bp and 57 bp are reportedly responsible for this variation. We analysed the cagA 3' region in 70 H. pylori strains using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. We found that another segment, namely beta segment, was also involved in the variation of this region. The beta segment was 105 bp long and located between the aforementioned two segments. Six genotypes were identified based on the structure of the cagA 3' region. No relationship was found between these genotypes and the clinical outcomes or vacA genotypes. The numbers of tyrosine phosphorylation sites within the cagA 3' region varied among strains, but this was not related to the cagA genotypes. Our data suggest that the cagA 3' region is significantly variable. It appears that the variation of the cagA 3' region might contribute to the modification of virulence.     

Four modes of adhesion are used during Helicobacter pylori binding to human mucins in the oral and gastric niches

Background:  Helicobacter pylori causes peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer, and the oral cavity is likely to serve as a reservoir for this pathogen. We investigated the binding of H. pylori to the mucins covering the mucosal surfaces in the niches along the oral to gastric infection route and during gastric disease and modeled the outcome of these interactions.
Materials and Methods:  A panel of seven H. pylori strains with defined binding properties was used to identify binding to human mucins from saliva, gastric juice, cardia, corpus, and antrum of healthy stomachs and of stomachs affected by gastritis at pH 7.4 and 3.0 using a microtiter-based method.
Results:  H. pylori binding to mucins differed substantially with the anatomic site, mucin type, pH, gastritis status, and H. pylori strain all having effect on binding. Mucins from saliva and gastric juice displayed the most diverse binding patterns, involving four modes of H. pylori adhesion and the MUC5B, MUC7, and MUC5AC mucins as well as the salivary agglutinin. Binding occurred via the blood-group antigen-binding adhesin (BabA), the sialic acid-binding adhesin (SabA), a charge/low pH-dependent mechanism, and a novel saliva-binding adhesin. In the healthy gastric mucus layer only BabA and acid/charge affect binding to the mucins, whereas in gastritis, the BabA/Le^b-dependent binding to MUC5AC remained, and SabA and low pH binding increased.
Conclusions:  The four H. pylori adhesion modes binding to mucins are likely to play different roles during colonization of the oral to gastric niches and during long-term infection.     

Cell surface characteristics of Helicobacter pylori

Abstract Helicobacter pylori is an important gastroduodenal pathogen of humans. Immunological and structural studies have been performed on the phospholipids, lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and some surface proteins of H. pylori strains. H. pylori LPS has, in general, low immunological activity and this property may aid the survival of this chronic infection. Nevertheless, H. pylori LPS has been found to influence the quality of gastric mucin and to stimulate pepsinogen secretion, thereby contributing to gastric disease. A number of putative adhesins of the bacterium have been described. This multiplicity of adhesins may reflect that H. pylori adherence is a multi-step process involving different interactions, and that different adhesins may mediate adherence to various sites in gastric tissue.     

表达幽门螺杆菌黏附素保守区的减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌株的构建

为构建表达幽门螺杆菌（Hp）黏附素保守区（AB）的无抗性减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌疫苗,采用缺失腺苷酸环化酶基因（Δcya）、环腺苷酸受体蛋白基因（Δcrp）以及天冬氨酸β-半醛脱氢酶基因（Δasd）的鼠伤寒沙门菌（X4072）作为宿主,将编码AB的基因插入Asd⁺的组成型表达载体pYA248,通过两次转化引入宿主菌,构建了表达AB基因平衡致死的减毒鼠伤寒沙门重组菌X4072（pYA248-AB）,采用桥联法ELISA测定X4072（pYA248-AB）培养上清液和裂解上清液中AB的抗原性,参照Meacock叙述的方法及重组菌生长曲线的测定来确定重组菌株的稳定性,通过C57BL/6小鼠口服测定半致死量来确定重组菌的安全性。成功构建了表达AB的减毒鼠伤寒沙门菌重组菌株S.typhimurium X4072(pYA248-AB),桥联法ELISA测定表明重组菌X4072（pYA248-AB）培养上清中AB的含量高于菌体裂解液,重组菌pYA248-AB在没有选择压力的情况下培养100代,随机挑选的重组菌全部都能生长,且在ELISA测定AB抗原时均显阳性。重组菌的生长曲线测定表明,X4072（pYA248）和X4072（pYA248-AB）的生长状态基本一致;口服重组菌株X4072(pYA248-AB)1.0×10¹⁰cfu.30d后,C57BL/6存活率仍为100%。成功构建了表达AB的无抗性的减毒鼠伤寒沙门菌疫苗X4072（pYA248-AB）,体外实验表明重组质粒是稳定的,动物实验证明重组菌株是安全的;为防治幽门螺杆菌感染提供了口服活菌疫苗候选株。     

Identification of Helicobacter pylori and the cagA genotype in gastric biopsies using highly sensitive real-time PCR as a new diagnostic tool

The CagA protein is one of the virulence factors of Helicobacter pylori, and two major subtypes of CagA have been observed, the Western and East Asian type. CagA is injected from the bacteria into gastric epithelial cells, undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation, and binds to Src homology 2 domain-containing protein-tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2. The East Asian type CagA binds to SHP-2 more strongly than the Western type CagA. Here, we tried to distinguish the CagA type by highly sensitive real-time PCR with the objective of establishing a system to detect H. pylori and CagA subtypes from gastric biopsies. We designed primers and probe sets for Western or East Asian-cagA at Western-specific or East Asian-specific sequence regions, respectively, and H. pylori 16S rRNA. We could detect the H. pylori 16S rRNA gene, Western and East Asian-cagA gene from DNA of gastric biopsies. The sensitivity and specificity for H. pylori infection was 100% in this system. In Thai patients, 87.8% (36/41) were cagA-positive; 26.8% (11/41) were Western-cagA positive and 53.7% (22/41) were East Asian-cagA positive, while 7.3% (3/41) reacted with both types of cagA. These results suggest that this real-time PCR system provides a highly sensitive assessment of CagA type as a new diagnostic tool for the pathogenicity of H. pylori infection.     

Identification of flagellar and associated polypeptides of Helicobacter (formerly Campylobacter) pylori

Flagella of Helicobacter pylori were isolated from intact organisms by shearing and differential centrifugation. Treatment of the flagella with the detergent Triton X-100 removed the flagellar sheath, which was confirmed by electron microscopy, and the remaining naked flagella were shown by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) to consist primarily of a single 54 kilodalton (kDa) polypeptide. This was confirmed by immunogold labelling and electron microscopy of detergent treated whole organisms, using a mouse antiserum specific for the 54 kDa polypeptide. Polypeptides solubilised from crude flagellar preparations by detergent treatment were found to have molecular weights of 26, 30, 58, 62, 66 and 80 kDa. These polypeptides are possible components of the flagellar sheath and they may represent outer membrane proteins, based on the assumption that the flagellar sheath is related in composition to the outer membrane of the organism. Analysis and definition of these components of the surface structures of the organism are important in understanding the interaction between the organism and its host in pathogenesis.     

Development and evaluation of a new growth medium for Helicobacter pylori

The present study was aimed at modifying the original formulation of Commercial Eugon agar (CEA) to develop a new H. pylori growth medium. Initial studies were carried out to determine the number of H. pylori colonies recovered on in-house H. pylori agar (IHPA), IHPA without l -cysteine and sodium sulfite (IHPA-NC), IHPA without l -cysteine (IHPA-C), IHPA without sodium sulfite (IHPA-N) and CEA as the control. Significant differences ( P <0.001) in the number of colonies recovered were observed between IHPA-N, IHPA-NC and IHPA-C. Incorporation of sodium sulfite decreased the number of colonies recovered, indicating that sodium sulfite was inhibitory to H. pylori growth. Removal of l -cysteine reduced the number of colonies recovered, suggesting that l -cysteine is necessary for the growth of H. pylori . In the subsequent study, incorporation of K₂HPO₄ further increased the number of colonies recovered compared with IHPA-N ( P <0.001), and 0.25% (w/v) of K₂HPO₄ yielded the highest numbers of colonies ( P ≤0.04). Finally, thirty other H. pylori clinical isolates were evaluated for their growth in the IHPAP-N, a new medium consisting of 1.5% (w/v) pepticase, 0.5% (w/v) peptone, 0.4% (w/v) sodium chloride, 0.03% (w/v) l -cysteine, 0.55% (w/v) dextrose, 0.25% (w/v) K₂HPO₄ and 1.5% (w/v) agar. The number of colonies recovered in IHPAP-N was significantly ( P <0.005) higher than that of CEA. IHPAP-N with 0.25% K₂HPO₄ and without sodium sulfite were adequate solid media for the growth of H. pylori .     

Protection against Helicobacter pylori infection by intestinal immunisation with a 50/52-kDa subunit protein

A mouse model of Helicobacter pylori infection was used to evaluate the vaccine antigen potential of the citrate synthase homologue protein purified from the H. pylori NCTC 11637 strain. Mice were immunised with the protein by intra-Peyer's patch immunisation. This route gives maximal intestinal immunisation and was used to screen oral vaccine candidate antigens without the added complication of simultaneously testing oral delivery systems. Two weeks post-immunisation mice were infected with Sydney strain H. pylori and 4 weeks after infection the mice were killed and the level of H. pylori infection in the stomach determined. Pre-immunisation with the 50/52-kDa protein led to a 84-91% reduction in H. pylori infection compared to unimmunised controls.     

A new modified concomitant therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication in Turkey

Background: Helicobacter pylori eradication rates have tended to decrease recently, mostly due to antibiotic resistance. In the present study, our aim was to determine Hp eradication rate with the LAC plus tid metronidazole regimen and the secondary objective of this study was to identify an effective regimen for our population. Methods: Eighty‐four Hp‐positive patients with non‐ulcer dyspepsia were assigned into the same group. Patients were administered the classical LAC protocole (lansoprazole 30 mg bid, amoxicillin 1 g bid and claritromycin 500 mg bid for 14 days) plus metronidazole 500 mg tid for 14 days. Gastroscopy and histopathological assessment were performed before enrollment and C¹⁴ urea breath test and stool antigen test were performed 6 weeks after treatment. Results: All 84 patients completed the study. No patient left the study because of drug side effect. Total eradication rate was 75% (63/84). Conclusion: Although LAC plus tid metronidazole regimen achieved a much better eradication rate compared with the standard LAC regimen; this is the first study that has a relatively low success with a concomitant therapy. So in areas of high resistance like Turkey, one cannot expect a high success with any clarithromycin containing regimen and those should be avoided.     

高效表达幽门螺杆菌UreB重组蛋白工程菌的构建

克隆表达幽门螺杆菌(Hp)的尿素酶B亚单位(UreB)重组蛋白,可为Hp疫苗开发和快速诊断试剂盒的研究奠定基础。用PCR方法由幽门螺杆菌染色体DNA扩增UreB基因片段,将其融合插入原核表达载体pQE30中,并在M15大肠杆菌表达。经酶切、测序分析,包括部分融合载体基因在内的重组UreB基因片段由1773bp组成。为编码591个氨基酸残基的多肽。SDS-PAGE分析显示重组表达的目的蛋白相对分子量约为66kD,表达量点菌体总蛋白的23．5％,并经免疫印迹分析证实被幽门螺杆菌感染的阳性血清可与纯化UreB重组蛋白发生特异性的结合反应。UreB重组蛋白具有良好的抗原性,将有可能成为一种有效蛋白质疫苗以及快速诊断试剂盒用于Hp感染的防治和检测。     

幽门螺杆菌空泡毒素研究进展

幽门螺杆菌空泡毒素是该菌产生的已知其它细菌毒素无明显源性的唯一蛋白毒素。该毒素是幽门螺杆菌重要的毒力致病因子,它的产生与感染胃肠上皮损伤和溃疡形成密切相关。本就幽门螺杆菌空泡毒素的结构与功能研究进展以及在未来免疫预防与免疫治疗中的作用进行了阐述。     

Identification and molecular analysis of superoxide dismutase isoforms in Helicobacter pylori

Three electromorphs of iron superoxide dismutase (FeSOD) were identified among 29 Helicobacter pylori isolates by native gel electrophoresis and activity staining. The electromorphs designated isoforms A, B, and C are characterized by slow, intermediate and fast electrophoretic migration, respectively, which was not observed under denaturing conditions. The isoforms were not associated with virulence determinants and with the outcome of disease. Sequence analysis of the sodB gene in strains producing different FeSOD isoforms and comparison of deduced protein sequences revealed that differences in the electric migration behavior are associated with exchange of charged amino acids, suggesting that faster migration is caused by a more negative total charge of the proteins. Electrophoretic migration of native FeSOD was not influenced by changes in the iron cofactor concentration, oxidative stress, and different media, indicating that FeSOD isoforms represent stable strain-specific markers.     

Evidence for a pentose phosphate pathway in Helicobacter pylori

Abstract Evidence for the presence of enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway in Helicobacter pylori was obtained using ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Activities of enzymes which are part of the oxidative and non-oxidative phases of the pathway were observed directly in incubations of bacterial lysates with pathway intermediates. Generation of NADPH and 6-phosphogluconate from NADP⁺ and glucose 6-phosphate indicated the presence of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconolactonase. Reduction of NADP⁺ with production of ribulose 5-phosphate from 6-phosphogluconate revealed 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activity. Phosphopentose isomerase and transketolase activities were observed in incubations containing ribulose 5-phosphate and xylulose 5-phosphate, respectively. The formation of erythrose 4-phosphate from xylulose 5-phosphate and ribose 5-phosphate suggested the presence of transaldolase. The activities of this enzyme and triosephosphate isomerase were observed directly in incubations of bacterial lysates with dihydroxyacetone phosphate and sedoheptulose 7-phosphate. Glucose-6-phosphate isomerase activity was measured in incubations with fructos 6-phosphate. The presence of these enzymes in H. pylori suggested the existence of a pentose phosphate pathway in the bacterium, possibly as a mechanism to provide NADPH for reductive biosynthesis and ribose 5-phosphate for synthesis of nucleic acids.     

幽门螺杆菌外膜蛋白25基因的克隆及序列分析

目的 克隆幽门螺杆菌（Helicobacter pylori,Hp）外膜蛋白25（OMP25）基因,并对其进行序列分析。方法 利用PCR技术扩增OMP25基因,并将其定向插入pET-22b（＋）载体中,以DNA自动序列分析仪进行核苷酸分析。结果 DNA序列分析表明,所克隆的OMP25基因序列与GeneBank公布的一致。结论 该研究获得了序列正确的幽门螺杆菌OMP25基因,为其重组表达及其棚关研究奠定了良好基础。     

Resolution of gastrointestinal protein loss after Helicobacter pylori eradication in a patient with hypertrophic lymphocytic gastritis

BACKGROUND: Lymphocytic gastritis is a rare condition found in approximately 1% of dyspeptic patients. An association with Helicobacter pylori infection has been described. Hypertrophic lymphocytic gastritis is a rare cause of gastrointestinal protein loss. Here, we describe a patient with hypertrophic lymphocytic gastritis, in whom gastrointestinal protein loss resolved completely following H. pylori eradication. CASE REPORT: A 38-year old obese man without gastrointestinal symptoms showed a markedly decreased serum protein (53 g/l, normal 66-85 g/l), a decreased serum albumin (33 g/l, normal 35-52 g/l) and decreased serum immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M levels. A renal cause for protein loss was excluded, liver function was normal. Endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract revealed enlarged rigid gastric folds, and an H. pylori-associated lymphocytic gastritis. 99mTc-labelled albumin scintigraphy showed an increased activity in the upper left abdomen compatible with protein secretion in the stomach, and tracer pooling in the upper small bowel. Push enteroscopy with histology demonstrated a normal upper small bowel. Two months after eradication therapy, cure of H. pylori infection was documented and serum protein (71 g/l) and albumin (41 g/l) had returned to normal, while lymphocytic gastritis was still present. One year after eradication therapy endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract and histology and laboratory values were normal. CONCLUSION: Protein-losing gastropathy caused by H. pylori-associated hypertrophic lymphocytic gastritis can be cured solely by H. pylori eradication therapy.     

Identification of platelet receptors for the Streptococcus gordonii DL1 sialic acid-binding adhesin

Aggregation of human platelets by Streptococcus gordonii DL1, an interaction implicated in the pathogenesis of infective endocarditis, requires the expression of hsa, the gene encoding the sialic acid-binding adhesin (Hsa) of this organism. To identify the sialoglycoproteins on the platelet surface as the receptors for Hsa, intrinsic membrane proteins were assessed by bacterial overlay assay. S. gordonii DL1 adhered to 130-140-kDa proteins, a reaction that was abolished by neuraminidase treatment of immobilized platelet surface proteins. These sialoglycoproteins were identified as platelet glycoprotein Ib alpha (GPIbalpha ) and glycoprotein IIb (GPIIb) by immunoprecipitation with specific monoclonal antibody against each glycoprotein.