title: Helicobacter pylori utilizes DNA shuffling to modulate the gastric inflammatory response.
abstract: Infections with the human gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori are among the most common infections worldwide, causing a significant burden of disease due to their association with gastric carcinogenesis. A hallmark of acute and chronic H. pylori infection is intense inflammation in the gastric submucosa, which is strongly enhanced by the activity of a major bacterial virulence factor, the cytotoxin-associated gene (Cag)-type IV secretion system (T4SS). Despite intense research in recent years, the molecular mechanisms leading to proinflammatory signaling by the Cag-T4SS are only partly understood. Barrozo et al. now show that this proinflammatory capability of H. pylori can be reduced or increased in vivo by recombination events in a particular repeat region of the T4SS component CagY, and that lymphocytes are the main driving force triggering such events. The results highlight the mutual interplay between a major bacterial virulence factor and the immune system and might aid in understanding bacterial persistence.
authors.affiliation: Max von Pettenkofer-Institut für Hygiene und Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Pettenkoferstr, 9a, 80336 München, Germany.
authors.forename: Kieu Thuy
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fischer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D058947:Bacterial Secretion Systems / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D058947:Bacterial Secretion Systems