Activity and Functional Importance of Helicobacter pylori Virulence Factors

Sgouras D, Tegtmeyer N, Wessler S (2019)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Journal

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology Kluwer Academic Publishers

Book Volume: 1149

Pages Range: 35-56

DOI: 10.1007/5584_2019_358

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori is a very successful Gram-negative pathogen colonizing the stomach of humans worldwide. Infections with this bacterium can generate pathologies ranging from chronic gastritis and peptic ulceration to gastric cancer. The best characterized H. pylori virulence factors that cause direct cell damage include an effector protein encoded by the cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA), a type IV secretion system (T4SS) encoded in the cag-pathogenicity island (cag PAI), vacuolating cytotoxin A (VacA), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), high temperature requirement A (HtrA, a serine protease) and cholesterol glycosyl-transferase (CGT). Since these H. pylori factors are either surface-exposed, secreted or translocated, they can directly interact with host cell molecules and are able to hijack cellular functions. Studies on these bacterial factors have progressed substantially in recent years. Here, we review the current status in the characterization of signaling cascades by these factors in vivo and in vitro, which comprise the disruption of cell-to-cell junctions, induction of membrane rearrangements, cytoskeletal dynamics, proliferative, pro-inflammatory, as well as, pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic responses or immune evasion. The impact of these signal transduction modules in the pathogenesis of H. pylori infections is discussed.

Authors with CRIS profile

Nicole Tegtmeyer-Backert Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie

Involved external institutions

Hellenic Pasteur Institute (HPI) GR Greece (GR) Universität Salzburg (Paris Lodron Universität Salzburg) AT Austria (AT)

How to cite

APA:

Sgouras, D., Tegtmeyer, N., & Wessler, S. (2019). Activity and Functional Importance of Helicobacter pylori Virulence Factors. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 1149, 35-56. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/5584_2019_358

MLA:

Sgouras, Dionyssios, Nicole Tegtmeyer, and Silja Wessler. "Activity and Functional Importance of Helicobacter pylori Virulence Factors." Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 1149 (2019): 35-56.

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