title: Intrafamilial spread of Helicobacter pylori: a genetic analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A high incidence of Helicobacter pylori among family members of children with H. pylori gastritis has previously been documented on biopsy material. The main objective of this study was the genetic clarification of H. pylori strains involved in intrafamilial dispersion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded material of antral mucosa from 32 members of 11 families was studied for the presence of genetic homogeneity. To achieve this goal, the entire genome of H. pylori was studied by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprinting method. Furthermore, the Urease A gene was analyzed using a multiplex PCR-assay and an alternative mutation detection method based on the Hydrolink trade mark analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RAPD fingerprinting confirmed that closely related H. pylori strains were involved in the intrafamilial dispersion. Mutations and small deletions in Urease A gene were found in 22 out of 32 individuals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The homology of the H. pylori genome in members of the same family strongly supports the hypothesis of transmission of H. pylori from person-to-person or from a common source.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department Paed. Athens University, 417 Veterans Administration Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Eleftheria
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roma-Giannikou
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karameris
authors.forename: Basilios
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Balatsos
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Panayiotou
authors.forename: Zisoula
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Manika
authors.forename: Catherina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van-Vliet
authors.forename: Theodore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rokkas
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Skandalis
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kattamis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D002648:Child; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000382:microbiology*; D016679:Genome, Viral; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019105:Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique; D014510:Urease / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D014510:Urease