title: Prevalence of vacA, cagA and babA2 genes in Cuban Helicobacter pylori isolates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence of vacuolating cytotoxin (vacA), cytotoxin associated gene A (cagA) and blood adhesion binding antigen (babA2) genotypes of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) isolates from Cuban dyspeptic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  DNA was extracted from H pylori-positive cultures taken from 130 dyspeptic patients. Genotyping was performed by PCR, using specific primers for vacA (s1, s2, m1, m2), cagA and babA2 genes. Endoscopic observations and histological examinations were used to determine patient pathologies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  vacA alleles s1, s2, m1 and m2 were detected in 96 (73.8%), 34 (26.2%), 75 (57.7%) and 52 isolates (40%), respectively, while the cagA gene was detected in 95 isolates (73.2%). One hundred and seven isolates (82.3%) were babA2-positive. A significant correlation was observed between vacAs1m1 and cagA and between vacAs1m1 and babA2 genotypes (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively) and between babA2 genotype and cagA status (P < 0.05); but, no correlation was observed between vacAs1 and babA2 genotypes. Eighty five (65.4%) and 73 (56.2%) strains were type 1 (vacAs1-cagA-positive) and "triple-positive" (vacAs1-cagA-babA2-positive), respectively, and their presence was significantly associated with duodenal ulcer (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The distribution of the main virulence factors in the Cuban strains in this study resembled that of the Western-type strains, and the more virulent H pylori isolates were significantly associated with duodenal ulcer, ulcer disease being the worst pathology observed in the group studied.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Biotechnology Division, National Centre for Scientific Research, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Lino E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Karelia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Melián
authors.forename: Arlenis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Jordis
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Sabatier
authors.forename: Mayrín
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: Ludisleydis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bermúdez
authors.forename: Boris L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D003462:Cuba; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005838:Genotype; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; C400429:BabA protein, Helicobacter pylori; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; C074689:VacA protein, Helicobacter pylori; C080866:cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori