Open AccessGenetic diversity of the helobacter pylori haemagglutinin/protease ( hap ) gene
Author(s) -
Hurtado Ana,
Chahal Bhajan,
Owen Robert J,
Smith Andrew W
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1994.tb07218.x
Subject(s) - biology , gene , helicobacter pylori , genetics , transposable element , protease , microbiology and biotechnology , genetic diversity , genome , enzyme , population , medicine , environmental health , biochemistry
Helicobacter pylori has been associated with the etiology of gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers and gastric cancer in man. In this study we confirm the presence of the haemagglutinin / protease ( hap ) gene in ten geographically diverse strains of H. pylori , but the Southern analysis of genomic DNA suggested that the location of the hap gene was different in each strain. We suggest that the hap gene is subject to a high rate of mutation and subsequent polymorphisms by virtue of a mobile, genetic element located upstream of the hap gene in the H. pylori genome. Simple transformation experiments suggested that this polymorphism may be mediated by a transposon‐like element.