Identification of <i>Helicobacter pylori </i>virulence factors and assessment of their pathogenic potential and pathogenic activity in patients with gastrointestinal disorders

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is found everywhere (approximately 50%) in people in the world, causing various types of gastrointestinal diseases ranging from mild inflammation, ulcers, and sometimes, stomach cancer. This pathogen carries a diverse set of genes encoding several virulence factors. In this research, we look forward to isolating bacteria and measuring them biochemically and molecularly to determine bacterial virulence factors that have an effective role in cancer generation. Different techniques and tests have been used for H. pylori detection. Biopsy samples were taken from all participants by endoscopy, which was used for rapid urease test (RUT), isolating in a pure form, examining it under an optical microscope, and conducting biochemical tests for confirmation. Out of 100 participants in the current study, 60 patients had various gastric diseases, and forty of the participants (control) were almost healthy. The median age of the control group was 42 years, while the median age of the patient group was 38. Among the patients, 53 were seropositive for H. pylori, and the presence of the virulence genes cagA and vac A was assessed in H. pylori seropositive patients. The cagA gene was detected in 32 (100%) seropositive patients, with the highest prevalence observed in gastritis patients (46.9%, n= 15), followed by gastric cancers and duodenal ulcers (both 21.9%, n= 7), and gastric ulcers (9.4%, n= 3). The vac A gene was present in 25 (100%) seropositive patients, with the highest prevalence found in gastritis patients (56%, n= 14), followed by gastric cancers (24%, n= 6), gastric ulcers (16%, n = 4), and duodenal ulcers (4%, n = 1). Interestingly, a small proportion of patients (12.8%, n = 6) with gastric cancers tested seronegative for H. pylori, while one patient with gastritis (2.1%, n= 1) was also seronegative. None of the seronegative patients harboured the cagA or vac A virulence genes. At the molecular level comes the effect of infection with H. pylori, which possesses very strong virulence factors (Cag A protein and VacA toxin), creating an environment conducive to cancer.