title: Helicobacter pylori: phenotypes, genotypes and virulence genes.
abstract: Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative, microaerophilic bacterium that colonizes the gastric mucus overlying the epithelium of the stomach in more than 50% of the world's population. This gastric colonization induces chronic gastric inflammation in all infected individuals, but only induces clinical diseases in 10-20% of infected individuals. These include peptic ulcers, acute and atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, gastric adenocarcinoma and gastric B-cell lymphoma. Various bacterial virulence factors are associated with the development of such gastric diseases, and the characterization of these markers could aid medical prognosis, which could be extremely important in predicting clinical outcomes. The purpose of this review is to summarize the role of the phenotypes, virulence-related genes and genotypes of H. pylori in the establishment of gastric colonization and the development of associated diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell & Molecular Biology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil. jlmodena@usp.br
authors.forename: José Luiz
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Proença-Modena
authors.forename: Gustavo Olszanski
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Acrani
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brocchi
mesh_terms: D005838:Genotype; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D037521:Virulence Factors