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Le Xu, Jun-Feng Zhang, School of Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province, China
Xing Liu, Fei Yang, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province, China
Qi Wu, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Zhao-Lai Hua, Institute of Tumor Prevention and Control, People's Hospital of Yangzhong City, Zhenjiang 212299, Jiangsu Province, China
Supported by: National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82274369; Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Program of Jiangsu Province, No. MS2021003.
Corresponding author: Jun-Feng Zhang, Professor, School of Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 138 Xianlin Avenue, Qixia District, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province, China. zhangjunfeng419@njucm.edu.cn
Received: November 14, 2023 Revised: December 1, 2023 Accepted: January 11, 2024 Published online: January 28, 2024
BACKGROUND
Helicobacter bacteria are associated with gastrointestinal diseases, especially Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). With the isolation of many non-Helicobacter pylori Helicobacters (NHPH) from the liver, intestines, and gallbladder of natural animal reservoirs, NHPH have been potential zoonotic pathogens, but their infection and pathogenic mechanisms are still unclear.
AIM
To explore the phylogenetic relationship of Helicobacter species based on their pathogenic genes.
METHODS
The present study collected the genomic sequences of 50 strains in genus Helicobacter, including 12 strains of H. pylori and 38 strains of NHPH. Based on 16S rRNA gene and several pathogenic genes (flagella, urease, and virulence factors), MAGA software (Version 11.0) was used to align their sequences and construct phylogenetic trees.
RESULTS
The phylogenetic tree of 16S rRNA gene showed that gastric Helicobacter (GH) and enterohepatic Helicobacter species (EHS) were clustered into two large branches, respectively. All of the GH's hosts were mammals, while the hosts of EHS were many wild poultry and mammals. Based on the flagella motility-related genes (flaA, flaB, fliP, fliQ, fliR, fliG, fliM, and fliN), the phylogenetic trees were divided into two major branches (GH and EHS). Similarly, the phylogenetic trees of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis-related genes (lptA, waaC, and waaF) presented two major branches (GH and EHS), too. The urease genes existed in all of the 12 strains of H. pylori, 13 strains of gastric NHPH, and 4 strains of EHS (H. hepaticus, H. muridarum, H. bilis, and H. anseris). However, no significant phylogenetic patterns of GH and EHS were observed in the seven urease genes (ureA, ureB, ureE, ureF, ureG, ureH, and ureI).
CONCLUSION
The phylogenetic relationship of Helicobacter species' pathogenic genes is dominated distinctly by the special colonization areas including gastric and enterohepatic niches.
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