Phenotypic and Genotypic Assessment of Antibiotic Resistance and Genotyping of vacA, cagA, iceA, oipA, cagE, and babA2 Alleles of Helicobacter pylori Bacteria Isolated from Raw Meat

Review of foodborne helicobacteriosis

Helicobacteriosis is a common bacterial infection caused by Helicobacter pylori. It affects the stomach and small intestines, leading to inflammation. Bacteria can spread through contaminated food or water. This review explores the role of food in the transmission of H. pylori, drawing on research from the past three decades. People commonly acquire the infection during childhood, often from close family members. Crowded living conditions can also contribute to the spread. This review also discusses various risk factors and highlights the challenges of detecting H. pylori, particularly in its dormant form. Techniques like ribotyping and restriction fragment length polymorphism hold promise for tracing transmission routes, but more long-term studies are needed to account for potential confounding factors.

Helicobacter pylori infection in humans and phytotherapy, probiotics, and emerging therapeutic interventions: a review

The global prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection remains high, indicating a persistent presence of this pathogenic bacterium capable of infecting humans. This review summarizes the population demographics, transmission routes, as well as conventional and novel therapeutic approaches for H. pylori infection. The prevalence of H. pylori infection exceeds 30% in numerous countries worldwide and can be transmitted through interpersonal and zoonotic routes. Cytotoxin-related gene A (CagA) and vacuolar cytotoxin A (VacA) are the main virulence factors of H. pylori, contributing to its steep global infection rate. Preventative measures should be taken from people's living habits and dietary factors to reduce H. pylori infection. Phytotherapy, probiotics therapies and some emerging therapies have emerged as alternative treatments for H. pylori infection, addressing the issue of elevated antibiotic resistance rates. Plant extracts primarily target urease activity and adhesion activity to treat H. pylori, while probiotics prevent H. pylori infection through both immune and non-immune pathways. In the future, the primary research focus will be on combining multiple treatment methods to effectively eradicate H. pylori infection.

Helicobacter pylori Strains Isolated from Raw Poultry Meat in the Shahrekord Region, Iran: Frequency and Molecular Characteristics

Even though Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a serious pathogen, its origin is unknown. Poultry (chicken, turkey, quail, goose, and ostrich) is consumed as a regular protein source by many people across the world; therefore, sanitary ways of delivering poultry for food are important for global health. As a result, the distribution of the virulence genes cagA, vacA, babA2, oipA, and iceA in H. pylori isolates in poultry meat, as well as their antibacterial resistance, was investigated. A Wilkins Chalgren anaerobic bacterial medium was used to cultivate 320 samples of raw poultry meat. Disk diffusion and multiplex-PCR were used to investigate both antimicrobial resistance and genotyping patterns. H. pylori was found in 20 of 320 (6.25 %) raw chicken meat samples. The highest incidence of H. pylori was found in chicken raw meat (15%), whereas no isolate was recovered from goose or quail raw meat (0.00%). Resistance to ampicillin (85%), tetracycline (85%), and amoxicillin (75%) were the most commonly detected in the tested H. pylori isolates. The percentage of H. pylori isolates with a multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index value of more than 0.2 was 17/20 (85%). The most prevalent genotypes detected were VacA (75%), m1a (75%), s2 (70%) and m2 (65%), and cagA (60%). The most typically detected genotype patterns were s1am1a (45 %), s2m1a (45 %), and s2 m2 (30%). babA2, oipA+, and oipA- genotypes were found in 40%, 30%, and 30% of the population, respectively. In summary, fresh poultry meat was polluted by H. pylori, with the babA2, vacA, and cagA genotypes being more prevalent. The simultaneous occurrence of vacA, cagA, iceA, oipA, and babA2 genotypes in antibiotic-resistant H. pylori bacteria raises a serious public health concern regarding the consumption of raw poultry. Future research should evaluate antimicrobial resistance among H. pylori isolates in Iran.

Clarithromycin-, and metronidazole-resistant Helicobacter pylori isolated from raw and ready-to-eat meat in Mansoura, Egypt

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), classified as a class-I carcinogen, is one of the leading medical pathogens of global concern associated mainly with the development of gastric adenocarcinomas and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas; nevertheless, its prevalence in food especially meat and meat products is not fully covered. Additionally, the resistance of H. pylori towards clarithromycin is increasing worldwide and consider the leading cause of H. pylori treatment failure. Thus, the present study was designed to determine the prevalence, molecular characterization, and antimicrobial resistance profiles of clarithromycin-, and metronidazole-resistant H. pylori isolated from raw and ready-to-eat meat samples retailed in Mansoura city, Egypt. Among the 250 samples tested, H. pylori were molecularly confirmed in 40.8 % (49/120) of raw meat products and in 29.2 % (38/130) of ready-to-eat meat products. Precisely, 53.3 % (32/60), 56.7 % (17/30), 40 % (8/20), 55 % (11/20), 60 % (12/20), 13.3 % (4/30), and 15 % (3/20) of raw ground beef, beef burger, beef burger sandwiches, beef shawarma sandwiches, beef kofta sandwiches, beef luncheon, and beef sausage sandwiches, respectively were positive for H. pylori. Of the 204 biochemically-identified H. pylori isolates, 53.9 % (110/204) were molecularly confirmed by PCR through the detection of glmM, cagA, or vacA genes, which were detected at an incidence of 95.5 % (105/110), 77.3 % (85/110), and 20.9 % (23/110) among the isolates, respectively. The antimicrobial sensitivity testing revealed that all of the 110 (100 %) molecularly-confirmed H. pylori isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR; resistant to four or more antibiotics). Interestingly, 100 % and 61.8 % of H. pylori isolated from raw and ready-to-eat meat were resistant to metronidazole and clarithromycin, respectively which consider alarming results as metronidazole and clarithromycin are the mainstay antibiotics in the treatment of H. pylori infections. Additionally, 94.5 %, 94.5 %, 24.5 %, 23.6 %, and 13.6 % of isolates were resistant to vancomycin, sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim, imipenem, levofloxacin, and nitrofurantoin, respectively. The widespread contamination of examined raw and ready-to-eat meat product samples with MDR H. pylori isolates could constitute a tremendous public health hazard. Further studies concerning the prevalence and possible methods of elimination of H. pylori in different food categories distributed in the various provinces in Egypt as well as in other countries is required for a better understanding the H. pylori as an emerging foodborne pathogen.

Prevalence, Virulence Genes, Phylogenetic Analysis, and Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Helicobacter Species in Chicken Meat and Their Associated Environment at Retail Shops in Egypt

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and Helicobacter pullorum (H. pullorum) are frequently reported pathogens in humans and poultry, respectively. Nevertheless, the source of H. pylori is still unclear. This study aimed to detect Helicobacter spp. in chicken carcasses and to assess the antibiogram and the virulence genes of Helicobacter isolates. Three hundred chicken meat samples (100 each of chicken breast, liver, and gizzard), besides 60 swab samples from chicken processing surfaces, were collected from retail shops in Qalyubia Governorate, Egypt, and examined for the prevalence of H. pylori and H. pullorum. The 16S rRNA of three H. pylori and two H. pullorum isolates were sequenced to determine the genetic relationship between these two Helicobacter spp. Of the 300 chicken samples tested, 16 (5.33%) and 14 (4.67%) were positive for H. pylori and H. pullorum, respectively. Multiplex PCR revealed that the virulence genes vacuolating cytotoxin A (vacA)s1, cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA), and restriction endonuclease-replacing gene A (hrgA) were detected in 66.7%, 77.8%, and 100% of H. pylori strains tested, respectively. H. pylori showed the highest resistance for clarithromycin, while H. pullorum exhibited the highest resistance towards erythromycin and ciprofloxacin. The study concluded that the chicken meat and giblets are potential sources of the virulent and antimicrobial-resistant strains of H. pylori of human origin.

Prevalence of Virulence Genes and Antigen Pattern in Helicobacter pylori-Infected Patients and The Level of Some Inflammatory Cytokines Compared with Non-infected Individuals

Background: The worldwide prevalence of Helicobacter pylori is about 50%. This bacterium needs a number of virulence factors for pathogenesis. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of virulence genes (ureB, cytotoxin-associated gene A [cagA], and vacuolating cytotoxin [vacA]), as well as the antigenic profile in H. pylori strains. Methods: Eighty-five patients with abdominal pain, including 46 H. pylori-positive and 39 H. pylori-negative cases, were enrolled in this study. The serum levels of interleukin (IL)-17F, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and interferon γ (IFN-γ) cytokines were measured by multiplex kits and flow cytometry. After molecular identification by the ureC gene, vacA, cagA, and ureB genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Finally, after antigenic extraction, the whole-cell protein was exhibited by sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Results: The prevalence of vacA, ureB, and cagA genes were 91.3%, 67.39%, and 50%, respectively. The frequency of genes and cell surface antigens were not significantly different based on the gastritis severity (P > 0.05). IL-17F significantly (P = 0.046) increased in the presence of 19.5 kDa (outer membrane protein [OMP]). Moreover, the OMP antigen significantly enhanced immunoglobulin A (IgA; P = 0.013). In the presence of the 66-kDa (ureB) antigen, the serum level of IFN-γ increased (p = 0.041). Finally, the CagA protein led to increased IgG antibody levels (p = 0.027). Conclusions: Early detection of H. pylori infection can play a crucial role in managing it. Our results suggest that IL-17F, TNF-α, and IFN-γ cytokines could be diagnostic markers. However, further studies are required to fully investigate this suggestion.

Study the relationship between Helicobacter pylori and bladder cancer

Given that bladder cancer is one of the most common cancers, and Helicobacter pylori infection also has 30-80% prevalence in different communities, this study investigates the role of H. pylori in developing bladder cancer; From December 2013 to February 2020, 200 patients with bladder tumors who underwent bladder tumor resection through the urethra in Kamkar-Arabnia Hospital were included in this study. H. pylori Ab, IgA, and IgG tests were first requested from all patients. If their antibodies were positive, other periodic tests including creatinine-sodium-potassium, Prothrombin Time (PT), Prothrombin Time Test (PTT), and International Normalized Ratio (INR), urinalysis, and culture were taken. The obtained results were analyzed using SPSS software version 25, and in the chi-square test, P <0.05 was considered a significant level; (3) Results: Based on laboratory findings, 66.5% of patients were H. pylori + (p <0.05). The result of the PCR test was positive in 4% of all patients. Besides, 6% of patients who tested positive for H. pylori Ab also showed positive PCR tests. Further studies are needed to investigate the association between H. pylori infection and bladder tumors to evaluate the proper role of H. pylori in tumors of the urinary system, especially the bladder and prostate, which have not been treated or reduced by treating H. pylori.

Antibiotic Resistance: From Pig to Meat

Pork meat is in high demand worldwide and this is expected to increase. Pork is often raised in intensive conditions, which is conducive to the spread of infectious diseases. Vaccines, antibiotics, and other biosafety measures help mitigate the impact of infectious diseases. However, bacterial strains resistant to antibiotics are more and more frequently found in pig farms, animals, and the environment. It is now recognized that a holistic perspective is needed to sustainably fight antibiotic resistance, and that an integrated One Health approach is essential. With this in mind, this review tackles antibiotic resistance throughout the pork raising process, including their microbiome; many factors of their environment (agricultural workers, farms, rivers, etc.); and an overview of the impact of antibiotic resistance on pork meat, which is the end product available to consumers. Antibiotic resistance, while a natural process, is a public health concern. If we react, and act, collectively, it is expected to be, at least partially, reversible with judicious antibiotic usage and the development of innovative strategies and tools to foster animal health.

Dietary multivalent anti-Helicobacter pylori immunoglobulin Y significantly increase the H. pylori eradication and improve the clinical symptoms in patients

BACKGROUND

The oral chicken immunoglobulin Y (IgY) as a novel model of immunotherapy to control Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori, Hp) infection has gained much interest in recent years. However, none of the current IgY therapies showed a total eradication of H. pylori on patients.

METHODS

In this report, the recombinant antigens of H. pylori, including UreB (1710 bp), BabA2 (1269 bp), and FlaA (399 bp), were, respectively, expressed and purified, and then mixed and subjected to immunize laying hens for the preparation of multivalent anti-H. pylori immunoglobulin Y (anti-Hp mIgY). Next, the biological activities of anti-Hp mIgY, including the recognition to antigens and the inhibition on H. pylori growth, were tested. Moreover, to perform a clinical trial, 94 Hp-infected patients, according to the values of ¹³ C urea breath test and the characteristics of gastroscopy of volunteers, were enrolled to evaluate the effects of dietary anti-Hp mIgY against H. pylori infection. After continuous dietary of anti-Hp mIgY for 2 weeks, the oral administration was terminated. The clinical symptoms of the patients were followed up at 2nd, 4th, and 6th week, respectively, and the ¹³ C urea breath test were re-examined at 6th week.

RESULTS

The anti-Hp mIgY could bind to recombinant antigens very well, and the titers of anti-Hp mIgY to UreB, Baba2, and FlaA, are 62.5, 125, and 250 μg/ml, respectively. The in vitro antibacterial test showed that the 2 mg/ml of anti-Hp mIgY could completely inhibit the H. pylori growth for 36 h. After a 2-week dietary of anti-Hp mIgY, the value of ¹³ C urea breath test was significantly decreased by 56.0% (25.9 ± 14.1 vs 11.4 ± 9.78, p < 0.001), the total improvement rate of clinical symptoms in volunteers was 87.3%, and the H. pylori eradication rate was 30.6%.

CONCLUSION

Two-week dietary of anti-Hp mIgY greatly improved the clinical symptoms and the quality of life of Hp-infected patients, and the H. pylori eradication rate reached up to 30.6%.

Frequency of virulence-associated genotypes of Helicobacter pylori and their correlation with clinical outcome and histological parameters in infected patients

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a gram-negative which can cause several gastroduodenal diseases, including gastritis and peptic ulcer disease (PUD). H. pylori specific genotypes have been related to increased occurrence of gastritis and PUD. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical relevance of the major virulence factors of H. pylori with clinical outcomes and histological parameters in Iranian patients. Totally, 200 subjects with PUD and gastritis disease who underwent gastroduodenal endoscopy were enrolled in this study. The presence of the cagA, vacA, oipA, babA2, and iceA genes in antral gastric biopsy specimens were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the results were compared with clinical outcomes and histological parameters. The frequency of babA2 ⁺ , oipA ⁺ , vacA s1/m2, and vacA m2 genes was significantly higher in patients with peptic ulcer disease compared with patients with gastritis. In contrast, the frequency of vacA s1/m1 gene was significantly higher in gastritis subjects than PUD subjects. The high-density scores of H. pylori were strongly associated with iceA1 ^¯ , babA2 ⁺ , and oipA ⁺ genes. Additionally, the high polymorphonuclear cell infiltration and high mononuclear cell infiltration scores were strongly associated with the cagA ⁺ , iceA1 ^¯ , oipA ⁺ genes and cagA ⁺ , babA2 ⁺ , oipA ⁺ genes, respectively. Our study indicated that the vacA, babA2, and oipA virulence factors are related to a higher risk of PUD in subjects with H. pylori-infection. Infection with these strains was associated with a more severe gastropathy.

Nutrient Deficiency Promotes the Entry of Helicobacter pylori Cells into Candida Yeast Cells

Helicobacter pylori, a Gram-negative bacterium, has as a natural niche the human gastric epithelium. This pathogen has been reported to enter into Candida yeast cells; however, factors triggering this endosymbiotic relationship remain unknown. The aim of this work was to evaluate in vitro if variations in nutrient concentration in the cultured medium trigger the internalization of H. pylori within Candida cells. We used H. pylori-Candida co-cultures in Brucella broth supplemented with 1%, 5% or 20% fetal bovine serum or in saline solution. Intra-yeast bacteria-like bodies (BLBs) were observed using optical microscopy, while intra-yeast BLBs were identified as H. pylori using FISH and PCR techniques. Intra-yeast H. pylori (BLBs) viability was confirmed using the LIVE/DEAD BacLight Bacterial Viability kit. Intra-yeast H. pylori was present in all combinations of bacteria-yeast strains co-cultured. However, the percentages of yeast cells harboring bacteria (Y-BLBs) varied according to nutrient concentrations and also were strain-dependent. In conclusion, reduced nutrients stresses H. pylori, promoting its entry into Candida cells. The starvation of both H. pylori and Candida strains reduced the percentages of Y-BLBs, suggesting that starving yeast cells may be less capable of harboring stressed H. pylori cells. Moreover, the endosymbiotic relationship between H. pylori and Candida is dependent on the strains co-cultured.

Incidence of hepatitis A and hepatitis E viruses and norovirus and rotavirus in fish and shrimp samples caught from the Persian Gulf

ABSTRACT Foodborne viruses including hepatitis A virus (HAV), norovirus (NoV), rotavirus (RoV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) are easily transmitted through contaminated seafoods. The current research was done to assess the incidence of RoV, NoV GI and GII,hAV and hEV in fish and shrimp samples caught from the Persian Gulf, Iran. Three-hundred and twenty fish and shrimp samples were collected. The presence of foodborne viruses were assessed by the real-time PCR. Forty-nine out of 320 (15.31%) fish and shrimp samples were positive for foodborne viruses. Distribution of hAV, NoV GI and NoV GII amongst all studied samples were 0.93%, 5.93% and 8.43%, respectively. hEV and RoV viruses were not found in studied samples. Parastromateus niger and Scomberomorus commerson fish and Penaeus monodon shrimp were the most frequently contaminated samples. Simultaneous incidence of hAV and NoV GI and hAV and NoV GII were 0.31% and 0.93%, respectively. Distribution of foodborne viruses in samples collected through spring, summer, autumn and winter seasons were 14.28%, 9.33%, 11.76% and 24.44%, respectively. Findings revealed that the incidence of foodborne viruses was significantly associated with seafood species and also season of sampling.

Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) cases by the oral administration of montelukast tablets

According to the hypothesis, montelukast may have therapeutic action against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) occurred by coronavirus 2 (CoV-19). The research was aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of montelukast tablet on coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) patients. A total of 20 COVID-19 confirmed patients were included in this study. The presence of COVID-19 infections in all patients was confirmed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and computerized tomography (CT) scan. Confirmed cases were treated with oral administration of montelukast (10 mg) tablet for 10 days. The study population was included 18 to 82 years old patients (10 males and 10 females). The mean age of studied men and women individuals were 44.7±17 and 41±17.45 years, respectively. Frequency of respiratory distress, cough, abdominal cramps/diarrhea, fever, and odor disorder clinical signs amongst the examined patients were 85%, 90%, 20%, 70%, and 65%, respectively. Our findings revealed that all patients who were received 10 days of oral administration of montelukast tablets (10 mg) were recovered from the COVID-19 disease. Additionally, all of the clinical signs of COVID-19 patients, including respiratory distress, cough, and odor disorder, were gradually disappeared. Our findings revealed that widespread oral administration of montelukast tablets (10 mg) is a potential treatment for COVID-19 disease. However, several double-blind and multifactorial clinical trials should perform to determine the other clinical aspects of the treatment of COVID-19 patients by oral administration of montelukast.