Jpn. J. Infect. Dis., 55, 1-5, 2002

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Review

Helicobacter pylori Vacuolating Cytotoxin, VacA

Toshiya Hirayama*, Akihiro Wada, Kinnosuke Yahiro, Miyuki Kimura and Takahiro Kimura

Department of Bacteriology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Sakamoto 1-12-4, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan

(Received October 31, 2001. Accepted January 23, 2002)

Contents:
1. Introduction
2. Structure and biological activity
3. Receptor
4. Vacuolation and cell death
5. Conclusion

SUMMARY: Helicobacter pylori is the leading bacterial cause of food-borne illness worldwide and plays a major role in the development of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer. Strains isolated from patients contain the cagA gene (cytotoxin-associated gene A) and produce the vacuolating cytotoxin, VacA. Recent molecular and cellular studies of VacA action have begun to unravel its structure and the details of the mechanism of gastric injury caused by H. pylori infection.



*Corresponding author: Tel: +81-95-849-7831, Fax: +81-95-849-7805


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