Helicobacter pylori γ-glutamyltransferase is linked to proteomic adaptions important for colonization

Fuchs S, Fiedler MK, Heiduk N, Wanisch A, Mibus C, Singh D, Debowski AW, Marshall BJ, Vieth M, Josenhans C, Suerbaum S, Sieber SA, Gerhard M, Mejías-Luque R (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Gut Microbes Taylor & Francis

Book Volume: 17

Article Number: 2488048

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2025.2488048

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori γ-glutamyltransferase (gGT) is a virulence factor that promotes bacterial colonization and immune tolerance. Although some studies addressed potential functional mechanisms, the supportive role of gGT for in vivo colonization remains unclear. Additionally, it is unknown how different gGT expression levels may lead to compensatory mechanisms ensuring infection and persistence. Hence, it is crucial to unravel the in vivo function of gGT. We assessed acid survival under conditions mimicking the human gastric fluid and elevated the pH in the murine stomach prior to H. pylori infection to link gGT-mediated acid resistance to colonization. By comparing proteomes of gGT-proficient and -deficient isolates before and after infecting mice, we investigated proteomic adaptations of gGT-deficient bacteria during infection. Our data indicate that gGT is crucial to sustain urease activity in acidic environments, thereby supporting survival and successful colonization. Absence of gGT triggers expression of proteins involved in the nitrogen and iron metabolism and boosts the expression of adhesins and flagellar proteins during infection, resulting in increased motility and adhesion capacity. In summary, gGT-dependent mechanisms confer a growth advantage to the bacterium in the gastric environment, which renders gGT a valuable target for the development of new treatments against H. pylori infection.

Authors with CRIS profile

Michael Vieth Professur für Allgemeine Pathologie am Medizincampus Oberfranken

Involved external institutions

Technische Universität München (TUM) DE Germany (DE) University of Western Australia (UWA) AU Australia (AU) Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Fuchs, S., Fiedler, M.K., Heiduk, N., Wanisch, A., Mibus, C., Singh, D.,... Mejías-Luque, R. (2025). Helicobacter pylori γ-glutamyltransferase is linked to proteomic adaptions important for colonization. Gut Microbes, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/19490976.2025.2488048

MLA:

Fuchs, Sonja, et al. "Helicobacter pylori γ-glutamyltransferase is linked to proteomic adaptions important for colonization." Gut Microbes 17.1 (2025).

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