Characterization of the outer membrane protein profile from disease-related Helicobacter pylori isolates by subcellular fractionation and nano-LC FT-ICR MS analysis

The role of heparan sulfate on adhesion of 47 and 51 kDa outer membrane proteins ofHelicobacter pylorito gastric cancer cellsThis study was done in memory of the late Dr. Roberto Carlos Vazquez-Juarez

Helicobacter pylori is a common gastrointestinal pathogenic bacterium in humans and the usual preference for the stomach’s outer membrane proteins (OMPs) are antigens involved in the adhesion process. Through SDS–PAGE and blotting analyses, using horseradish peroxidase-labeled heparan sulfate (HRP-HS) as a probe, we identified H. pylori OMPs with affinity for heparan sulfate (OMP-HS). Biotin–streptavidin bacterial-adhesion assay was used to evaluate participation of OMP-HS in the adhesion of H. pylori to semi-confluent HeLa S3 and Kato III cell monolayers. The results provide evidence that induction of antibodies against 2 OMP-HSs (HSBP-47 and HSBP-51) could reduce binding of H. pylori to both cell lines and induce detachment of cell-bound bacteria from infected cultured cells.

Differences in genome content among Helicobacter pylori isolates from patients with gastritis, duodenal ulcer, or gastric cancer reveal novel disease-associated genes

Helicobacter pylori establishes a chronic infection in the human stomach, causing gastritis, peptic ulcer, or gastric cancer, and more severe diseases are associated with virulence genes such as the cag pathogenicity island (PAI). The aim of this work was to study gene content differences among H. pylori strains isolated from patients with different gastroduodenal diseases in a Mexican-Mestizo patient population. H. pylori isolates from 10 patients with nonatrophic gastritis, 10 patients with duodenal ulcer, and 9 patients with gastric cancer were studied. Multiple isolates from the same patient were analyzed by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis, and strains with unique patterns were tested using whole-genome microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH). We studied 42 isolates and found 1,319 genes present in all isolates, while 341 (20.5%) were variable genes. Among the variable genes, 127 (37%) were distributed within plasticity zones (PZs). The overall number of variable genes present in a given isolate was significantly lower for gastric cancer isolates. Thirty genes were significantly associated with nonatrophic gastritis, duodenal ulcer, or gastric cancer, 14 (46.6%) of which were within PZs and the cag PAI. Two genes (HP0674 and JHP0940) were absent in all gastric cancer isolates. Many of the disease-associated genes outside the PZs formed clusters, and some of these genes are regulated in response to acid or other environmental conditions. Validation of candidate genes identified by aCGH in a second patient cohort allowed the identification of novel H. pylori genes associated with gastric cancer or duodenal ulcer. These disease-associated genes may serve as biomarkers of the risk for severe gastroduodenal diseases.

Bacterial membrane proteomics

About one quarter to one third of all bacterial genes encode proteins of the inner or outer bacterial membrane. These proteins perform essential physiological functions, such as the import or export of metabolites, the homeostasis of metal ions, the extrusion of toxic substances or antibiotics, and the generation or conversion of energy. The last years have witnessed completion of a plethora of whole-genome sequences of bacteria important for biotechnology or medicine, which is the foundation for proteome and other functional genome analyses. In this review, we discuss the challenges in membrane proteome analysis, starting from sample preparation and leading to MS-data analysis and quantification. The current state of available proteomics technologies as well as their advantages and disadvantages will be described with a focus on shotgun proteomics. Then, we will briefly introduce the most abundant proteins and protein families present in bacterial membranes before bacterial membrane proteomics studies of the last years will be presented. It will be shown how these works enlarged our knowledge about the physiological adaptations that take place in bacteria during fine chemical production, bioremediation, protein overexpression, and during infections. Furthermore, several examples from literature demonstrate the suitability of membrane proteomics for the identification of antigens and different pathogenic strains, as well as the elucidation of membrane protein structure and function.

Proteomic analysis of highly purified prolamellar bodies reveals their significance in chloroplast development

The prolamellar body (PLB) proteome of dark-grown wheat leaves was characterized. PLBs are formed not only in etioplasts but also in chloroplasts in young developing leaves during the night, yet their function is not fully understood. Highly purified PLBs were prepared from 7-day-old dark-grown leaves and identified by their spectral properties as revealed by low-temperature fluorescence spectroscopy. The PLB preparation had no contamination of extra-plastidal proteins, and only two envelope proteins were found. The PLB proteome was analysed by a combination of 1-D SDS-PAGE and nano-LC FTICR MS. The identification of chlorophyll synthase in the PLB fraction is the first time this enzyme protein was found in extracts of dark-grown plants. This finding is in agreement with its previous localization to PLBs using activity studies. NADPH:protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase A (PORA), which catalyses the reduction of protochlorophyllide to chlorophyllide, dominates the proteome of PLBs. Besides the identification of the PORA protein, the PORB protein was identified for the first time in dark-grown wheat. Altogether 64 unique proteins, representing pigment biosynthesis, photosynthetic light reaction, Calvin cycle proteins, chaperones and protein synthesis, were identified. The in number of proteins' largest group was the one involved in photosynthetic light reactions. This fact strengthens the assumption that the PLB membranes are precursors to the thylakoids and used for the formation of the photosynthetic membranes during greening. The present work is important to enhance our understanding of the significance of PLBs in chloroplast development.

Pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori infection

The clinical outcome of Helicobacter pylori infection is determined by a complex interaction between the bacterium and the host. The main bacterial factors associated with pathogenicity comprise outer membrane proteins, including BabA, SabA, OipA, AlpA, and AlpB, the vacuolating cytotoxin VacA and the products of cagPAI. The multitude of putative virulence factors makes it extremely difficult to test the contribution of each individual factor. Much effort has been put into identifying the mechanism associated with H. pylori-associated carcinogenesis. Interaction between bacterial factors such as CagA and host signal transduction pathways seems to be critical for mediating cell transformation, cell proliferation, invasion, apoptosis/anti-apoptosis, and angiogenesis. An animal model using the Mongolian gerbil is a useful model for showing gastric pathology due to H. pylori infection which is similar to that in humans and can be used to evaluate virulence factors including CagA, host responses, and environmental factors such as salt intake.

Progress in vaccine development against Helicobacter pylori

Based on the very high prevalence of diseases caused by Helicobacter pylori, particularly in the developing world, and the rapid emergence of antibiotic resistance among clinical isolates, there is a strong rationale for an effective vaccine against H. pylori. In this review we describe recent promising candidate vaccines and prophylactic or therapeutic immunization strategies for use against H. pylori, as well as studies to identify immune responses that are related to protection in experimental animals. We also describe identification of different types of immune responses that may be related to protection against symptoms based on comparisons of H. pylori-infected patients with duodenal ulcers or gastric cancer and asymptomatic carriers. We conclude that there is still a strong need to clarify the main protective immune mechanisms against H. pylori as well as to identify a cocktail of strong protective antigens, or recombinant bacterial strains that express such antigens, that could be administered by a regimen that gives rise to effective immune responses in humans.