EPIYA Motif Genetic Characterization from Helicobacterpylori Isolates in Distinct Geographical Regions of Iran

Background and Aim : This study aimed to determine the current EPIYA motifs of the cagAgene in Helicobacter pylori isolates from patients with gastric disorders, and evaluate theassociation between these patterns and the clinical outcome of H. pylori infection in differentgeographical regions of Iran.Methods : We examined ۱۵۰ patients with gastrointestinal disorders from the central and easternregions of Iran. The detection of H. pylori and screening of cagA was performed by polymerasechain reaction (PCR). The pattern of the motifs was determined by PCR followed by sequencing.Results : The overall prevalence of H. pylori was ۶۶.۳% in eastern (Mashad) and ۵۰.۶% in thecentral (Isfahan) part of Iran. The frequency of cagA-positive strains in Mashad and Isfahan were۶۳.۴% and ۵۶.۷%, respectively. The pattern of EPIYA motif was as follows: ۴۳ (۷۹.۶%) ABC, ۷(۱۲.۹%) AB, ۴ (۷.۴%) ABCC, and one (۱.۹%) ABCCC. We also identified a novel EPIYA Csequence motif which showed association with gastric cancer (GC). The relationship between thefrequency of specific EPIYA motifs and GC was statistically significant (P < ۰.۰۵).Conclusion : This is the first report for the determination of the cagA EPIYA motif of H. pyloriin the Northeast and center of Iran. The prevalence of cagA positive H. pylori between the tworegions was significant (P ≤ ۰.۰۵). All isolates of the H. pylori cagA were western type (ABC).The increase in the number of EPIYA-C repeats was associated with GC (P ≤ ۰.۰۱).

کلیدواژه ها:

CagA ، gastric cancer ، gastrointestinal diseases ، Helicobacter pylori ، Iran