Hanyang Med Rev.  2007 Aug;27(3):28-33.

Virulence factors of Helicobacter pylori and their clinical significances

• Lee YC

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is known be an etiologic factor for gastric and duodenal ulcer, gastric noncardiac adenocarcinoma, and MALT lymphoma in a subset of infected individuals. Pathogenesis of H. pylori infection is based on the long term host to bacterial interaction and may be affected by various virulence factors of the bacterium, environmental, and host factors (age, sex, blood type). Mucosal inflammation is the basic principle mechanism underlying the disease development in which tissue destruction may be initiated and maintained by both the bacterial toxins (cagA, vacA) and host immune responses. Immune evasion by bacterial modulation of host response affects the long term colonization of the microbe. Colonization is also affected by urease and/or motility of the bacterium, lipopolysaccharide, and others. Investigation into the pathogenesis of H. pylori related diseases based on bacterial virulence factors could provide answer to the impact of chronic host to microbial interaction resulting in human diseases.

Keyword

Helicobacter pylori; Pathogenesis; Virulence factors

MeSH Terms

Adenocarcinoma
Bacterial Toxins
Colon
Duodenal Ulcer
Helicobacter pylori*
Helicobacter*
Humans
Immune Evasion
Inflammation
Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone
Microbial Interactions
Urease
Virulence Factors*
Virulence*
Bacterial Toxins
Urease
Virulence Factors