title: cagE as a biomarker of the pathogenicity of Helicobacter pylori.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with gastro-duodenal diseases. Genes related to pathogenicity have been described for H. pylori and some of them appear to be associated with more severe clinical outcomes of the infection. The present study investigates the role of cagE as a pathogenicity biomarker of H. pylori compare it to cagA, vacA, iceA and babA2 genes and correlate with endoscopic diagnoses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Were collected biopsy samples of 144 dyspeptic patients at the Hospital of the Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. After collection, the samples were sent for histological examination, DNA extraction and detection of all putative pathogenicity genes by PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 144 patients undergoing endoscopy, 57 (39.6%) presented H. pylori by histological examination and PCR by detection of the ureA gene. Based on the endoscopic diagnoses, 45.6% (26/57) of the patients had erosive gastritis, while 54.4% (31/57) had enanthematous gastritis. The genes cagA, cagE, vacAs1/m1, vacAs1/m2 and iceA1 were related to erosive gastritis, while the genes vacAs2/m2, iceA2 and babA2 were associated to enanthematous gastritis. We found a statistically significant association between the presence of cagE and the endoscopic diagnosis. However, we detect no statistically significant association between the endoscopic diagnosis and the presence of cagA, vacA, iceA and babA2, although a biological association has been suggested. Conclusions Thus, cagE could be a risk biomarker for gastric lesions and may contribute to a better evaluation of the H. pylori pathogenic potential and to the prognosis of infection evolution in the gastric mucosa.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Ivy Bastos
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Ramis
authors.forename: Júlia Silveira
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Vianna
authors.forename: Lande Vieira da
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Silva Junior
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Von Groll
authors.forename: Pedro Eduardo Almeida da
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004279:DNA, Viral; D005819:Genetic Markers; C103937:PicB protein, Helicobacter pylori