Peptic Ulcer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Peptic Ulcer, including details on helicobacter pylori, diet, symptoms, treatment.

cagA gene variants in Malaysian Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from patients of different ethnic groups.

Ramelah M, Aminuddin A, Alfizah H, Isa MR, Jasmi AY, Tan HJ, Rahman AJ, Rizal AM, Mazlam MZ

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Molecular Biology Institute, 7th Floor, Clinical Block, Hospital UKM, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ramelah@mail.hukm.ukm.my

Helicobacter pylori infection of a distinct subtype of cagA may lead to different pathological manifestation. The aim of this study is to determine the presence of cagA gene and its variants in H. pylori infection among different ethnic groups and its effect on gastroduodenal diseases. Overall detection of cagA among the 205 clinical isolates of H. pylori was 94%. Variations in size of the 3' region of cagA gene were examined among 192 Malaysian H. pylori cagA-positive strains. Results showed that three cagA variants differing in fragment length of PCR products were detected and designated as type A (621-651bp), type B (732-735bp) and type C (525 bp). Although there was no association between any of the cagA subtypes with peptic ulcer disease (p>0.05), an association between cagA subtypes with a specific ethnic group was observed. Specific-cagA subtype A strains were predominantly isolated from Chinese compared to Malays and Indians (p<0.0005), and cagA subtype B strains were predominantly isolated from Malays and Indians compared to Chinese (p<0.05). The cagA type A strains of H. pylori is commonly found in the Chinese patients who have a higher risk of peptic ulcer disease, thus indicating that it could be used as an important clinical biomarker for a more severe infection.

Published 3 May 2005 in FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol, 44(2): 239-42.
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