The vacuolating cytotoxin produced by Helicobacter pylori is considered to be one virulence factor causing peptic ulceration. In this study, we examined the activity of vacuolating cytotoxin in induction of intracellular vacuolation of rabbit gastric epithelial cells (RGECs). We used culture supernatants of H. pylori as a source of vacuolating cytotoxin and quantitated cytotoxic activity by the...

Naturally occurring noncytotoxic vacA type s2 strains of Helicobacter pylori have a 12-residue extension to the vacuolating cytotoxin (VacA) compared with cytotoxic type s1 strains. We show that adding the region encoding this extension to type s1 vacA completely abolishes vacuolating cytotoxin activity but has no effect on VacA production.

A cytotoxin inducing vacuolation in HEp-2 cells was detected in 19 (3.1%) of 618 stool specimens from children with diarrhea but in none of 135 from control children. Common enteric pathogens were found in only two (10.5%) of the 19 cytotoxin-positive stool specimens. The vacuoles induced by stool filtrates resembled those induced by the vacuolating toxin (VacA) of Helicobacter pylori. The vacu...

background: helicobacter pylori (h. pylori) cytotoxin and its heterogeneity amongst strains has been closely linked to the varying infection-associated clinical outcomes. in order to determine the decisive role of the vacuolating cytotoxin (vaca) gene mosaicism in its corresponding gene expression and phenotype, we aimed to characterize vaca alleles of different h. pylori strains in addition to...

Colonization of the mucosa of the stomach and the duodenum by Helicobacter pylori is the major cause of acute and chronic gastroduodenal pathologies in humans. Duodenal ulcer formation strongly correlates with the expression of an antigen (CagA) that is usually coeexpressed with the vacuolating cytotoxin (VacA), a protein that causes ulceration in the stomach of mice. However, the relationship ...

BACKGROUND It has been reported that infection with vacuolating cytotoxin positive Helicobacter pylori strains is associated with gastroduodenal disease in Western countries. AIMS To evaluate the prevalence of cytotoxin producing strains among patients with H pylori infection in relation to gastrointestinal diseases in Japan. PATIENTS Ninety seven patients undergoing endoscopy. METHODS A ...

BACKGROUND VacA and CagA proteins have been reported to be major virulence factors of Helicobacter pylori. However, antibodies against these proteins are frequently found in the sera of Japanese patients regardless of their gastroduodenal status. AIM To evaluate the expression of VacA and CagA proteins by H pylori strains isolated in Japan. METHODS By using specific antibodies raised agains...

A cytotoxin produced by some Helicobacter pylori strains has recently been identified. The cytotoxin induces intracellular vacuolization of cultured cells. The aim of the present study was to examine the frequency of occurrence of cytotoxin-producing strains of H. pylori from subjects with upper gastrointestinal disease including nonulcer dyspepsia, gastric and duodenal ulcer disease, gastroeso...

Vacuolating cytotoxin (VacA) is one of the most important virulence factors of H. pylori (Hp), which isthe only toxic protein that is secreted from Hp cell into the culture supernatant. The effects of VacA oneukaryotic systems is the subject of many previous and on going research studies. Intracellular targetsfor this toxin include: late endosomal and lysosomal compartments, m...

Helicobacter pylori is the leading bacterial cause of food-borne illness worldwide and plays a major role in the development of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer. Strains isolated from patients contain the cagA gene (cytotoxin-associated gene A) and produce the vacuolating cytotoxin, VacA. Recent molecular and cellular studies of VacA action have begun to unravel its structure...