title: Helicobacter pylori VacA, a paradigm for toxin multifunctionality.
abstract: Bacterial protein toxins alter eukaryotic cellular processes and enable bacteria to successfully colonize their hosts. In recent years, there has been increased recognition that many bacterial toxins are multifunctional proteins that can have pleiotropic effects on mammalian cells and tissues. In this review, we examine a multifunctional toxin (VacA) that is produced by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. The actions of H. pylori VacA represent a paradigm for how bacterial secreted toxins contribute to colonization and virulence in multiple ways.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Medicine, and Microbiology and Immunology, Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and Veterans Administration Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA. timothy.l.cover@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Timothy L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Cover
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Blanke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology; D010587:Phagocytosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000382:microbiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; C074689:VacA protein, Helicobacter pylori