BACKGROUND

pathogenicity and disease severity are determined by the tyrosine phosphorylation motifs of CagA protein. This study is aimed at detecting the presence of . and identifying the CagA tyrosine phosphorylation motifs in Ghanaian patients. . A total of 94 archival genomic DNA samples from gastric biopsies were used for the study, and . was detected by amplifying the 16S rRNA gene. The 3'-end variable region of the cagA gene was amplified, and the entire 3'-end was sequenced and translated into amino acids.

RESULTS

. was detected in 53.2% (50/94) of the samples, and all the detected bacteria harboured the gene. Two variants of the bacteria were identified based on the size of the amplified gene: 207 bp and 285 bp. The 207 bp and 285 bp variants accounted for 74% and 22%, respectively, and 4% showed both fragments. Translated amino acid sequence of the gene showed EPIYA-A, EPIYA-B, and EPIYA-C (ABC type) motifs, indicating the Western variant. The CagA protein C-terminal showed insertion of amino acids in the sequence flanking the EPIYA-A motif at the N-terminal and a complete deletion of the EPIYA-CC and EPIYA-CCC motifs together with the flanking sequences.

CONCLUSIONS

. identified were Western variant (ABC type) with unique amino acid insertions, suggesting unique variants in Ghanaian patients. Further investigation is however required to understand the role of the molecular diversity of the variant in gastric disease outcome.