Restoration of Mitochondrial Structure and Function within <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> VacA Intoxicated Cells

The Helicobacter pylori vacuolating cytotoxin (VacA) is an intracellular, mitochondrial-targeting exotoxin that rapidly causes mitochondrial dysfunction and fragmentation. Although VacA targeting of mitochondria has been reported to alter overall cellular metabolism, there little known about the consequences extended exposure toxin. Here, we describe studies address this gap in knowledge, which have revealed fragmentation are followed by a time-dependent recovery structure, transmembrane potential, ATP levels. Cells exposed also initially demonstrated reduction oxidative phosphorylation, as well increase compensatory aerobic glycolysis. These metabolic alterations were reversed cells with limited toxin exposure, congruent potential absence cytochrome c release from mitochondria. Taken together, these results consistent model structure function restored VacA-intoxicated cells.