Author/Authors :
Ahmad، Sajjad نويسنده , , ben Ahmad Shah، Faisal نويسنده , , Rahman، Faiz-ur- نويسنده Department of Zoology, Hazara University, Garden Campus, Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan , , Khan، Salman نويسنده M.Sc, Medical Microbiology, Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Nepalgunj Medical College, Nepal , , Murad، Waheed نويسنده Department of Botany, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Pakistan , , Mughal، Imran نويسنده Center of Biotechnology and Microbiology (COBAM),
University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan , , ur Rahman، Amjad نويسنده DHQ Teaching Hospital, KDA Kohat, Khyber Pukhtoon Khwa,
Pakistan , , Muhammad Khan، Fida نويسنده Bioresource Research Center (BRC), Islamabad,
Pakistan , , Khan، Imad نويسنده College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Abdul
Wali khan University, Mardan, Pakistan , , Ahmad، Hajra نويسنده Department of Medicine, Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH),
Peshawar, Pakistan ,
Abstract :
The distribution pattern of phase-variable genes varies from strain
to strain and from region to region. The present study was carried out
to investigate the distribution pattern of phase-variable genes within
Pakistan-based Helicobacter pylori strains and to analyze and compare
them with strains prevalent in other parts of the world. To determine
the distribution pattern of phase-variable genes in H. pylori strains
circulating in Pakistan. Biopsy samples were collected from 85
symptomatic patients suffering from various upper gastrointestinal tract
symptoms. The biopsy specimens were chopped, then inoculated on H.
pylori-specific media and incubated in a Campylobacter Gas Generating
kit. Positive isolates were further confirmed via staining and
biochemical procedures. Primers were designed for five phase-variable
genes using OligoCalc, an oligonucleotide properties calculator (version
3.26) according to parameters stipulated in the literature. Polymerase
chain reaction (PCR) was performed on all positive isolates to determine
the presence or absence of phase-variable genes. On culturing, the
prevalence of H. pylori infections in the samples was 44.7%. The
prevalence was higher in females than in males, and it increased with
age. PCR amplification revealed that the hsdR gene was present in 79% of
samples, while the mod and β-subunit genes were present in 16% and 30%
of samples, respectively. The streptococcal M protein gene was found in
79%, while the fliP gene was prevalent in 56%. The distribution patterns
of phase-variable genes in Pakistani H. pylori strains were found to be
somewhat different. The dominant prevalence of the hsdR gene was an
interesting finding, considering its role in bacterial defense in both
micro- and macroenvironments.
