Dissemination of cagA and cagE Virulence Genes Among H. Pylori Strains From Sudanese Patients With Gastric Discomfort

Abstract ObjectivesHelicobacter pylori cytotoxin-associated gene pathogenicity island (cag-PAI) is one of the strain-specific genes (they do not exist in all strains). cag-PAI is involved in inducing inflammation, ulceration, and carcinogenesis. This study aimed to detect and characterize cagA and cagE virulence genes among H. pylori strains from Sudanese patients with gastric discomfort.ResultOut of 288 gastric biopsies screened for the presence of H. pylori, 34% (98/288) were positive, cagA gene was present in 41% (40/98) of specimens, mostly in patients with gastritis 72.5% (29/40), followed by duodenal ulcer 15% (6/40), esophagitis 5% (2/40), and 7.5% (3/40) in patients diagnosed normal by endoscopy. cagE gene was present in 39% (38/98) of specimens, the majority 73.7% (28/38) were from patients with gastritis, 10.5% (4/38) duodenal ulcer, 5.3% (2/38) esophagitis, 2.6% (1/38) gastric ulcer, and 7.9% (3/38) were diagnosed as normal. The cagA and cagE protein sequences have synonymous amino acid variations.