Preprint Review Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Unraveling the Complexity of Helicobacter pylori Pathogenicity: Insights into Outer Membrane Proteins, Virulence Factors, and Treatment Strategies

Version 1 : Received: 26 February 2024 / Approved: 27 February 2024 / Online: 27 February 2024 (12:11:01 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Sedarat, Z.; Taylor-Robinson, A.W. Helicobacter pylori Outer Membrane Proteins and Virulence Factors: Potential Targets for Novel Therapies and Vaccines. Pathogens 2024, 13, 392. Sedarat, Z.; Taylor-Robinson, A.W. Helicobacter pylori Outer Membrane Proteins and Virulence Factors: Potential Targets for Novel Therapies and Vaccines. Pathogens 2024, 13, 392.

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori is a gastric oncopathogen that infects over half of the world’s human population. It is a Gram-negative, microaerophilic, helix-shaped bacterium that is equipped with flagella, which provide high motility. Colonization of the stomach is asymptomatic in up to 90% of people but is a recognized risk factor for developing various gastric disorders such as gastric ulcers, gastric cancer and gastritis. Invasion of the human stomach occurs via numerous virulence factors such as CagA and VacA. Similarly, outer membrane proteins (OMPs) play an important role in H. pylori pathogenicity as a means to adapt to the epithelial environment and thereby facilitate infection. While some OMPs are porins, others are adhesins. The epithelial cell receptors SabA, BabA, AlpA, OipA, HopQ and HopZ have been extensively researched to evaluate their epidemiology, structure, role and genes. Moreover, numerous studies have been performed to seek to understand the complex relationship between these factors and gastric diseases. Associations exist between different H. pylori virulence factors, the co-expression of which appears to boost pathogenicity of the bacterium. Improved knowledge of OMPs is a major step towards combatting this global disease. Here, we provide a current overview of different H. pylori OMPs and discuss their pathogenicity, epidemiology and correlation with various gastric diseases.

Keywords

Helicobacter pylori; outer membrane protein; virulence factor; gastric cancer; gastric disease

Subject

Medicine and Pharmacology, Pathology and Pathobiology

Comments (0)

We encourage comments and feedback from a broad range of readers. See criteria for comments and our Diversity statement.

Leave a public comment
Send a private comment to the author(s)
* All users must log in before leaving a comment
Views 0
Downloads 0
Comments 0


×
Alerts
Notify me about updates to this article or when a peer-reviewed version is published.
We use cookies on our website to ensure you get the best experience.
Read more about our cookies here.