Classification of Helicobacter pylori Virulence Factors: Is CagA a Toxin or Not?

Knorr J, Ricci V, Hatakeyama M, Backert S (2019)

Publication Type: Journal article, Review article

Publication year: 2019

Journal

Trends in Microbiology Elsevier

DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2019.04.010

Abstract

Since its discovery, Helicobacter pylori has been identified as the causative agent of various gastric diseases. H. pylori produces myriads of disease-associated virulence factors. These bacterial determinants can be distinguished as cell-binding factors, immunoregulatory components, survival factors, toxins, and effector proteins. For most of these factors there is consensus about their classification. However, there is a strong dispute in the literature as to whether one of the best-studied factors, CagA, represents a toxin or not. CagA displays unique functions that are clearly different from conventional toxins, and CagA counteracts the activities of an established H. pylori toxin, VacA. Canonical toxins commonly have specific (and narrow) targets, can act even in the absence of the bacterial cell, and elicit acute damage to host cells. However, there is still no agreement on the classification of CagA. Here we discuss whether CagA acts as a toxin, and propose a classification consensus for CagA.

Authors with CRIS profile

Jakob Knorr Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie Steffen Backert Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie

Involved external institutions

University of Tokyo JP Japan (JP) Università degli Studi di Pavia IT Italy (IT)

How to cite

APA:

Knorr, J., Ricci, V., Hatakeyama, M., & Backert, S. (2019). Classification of Helicobacter pylori Virulence Factors: Is CagA a Toxin or Not? Trends in Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2019.04.010

MLA:

Knorr, Jakob, et al. "Classification of Helicobacter pylori Virulence Factors: Is CagA a Toxin or Not?" Trends in Microbiology (2019).

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