[High prevalence of VacA, CagA protein expression and presence of cag pathogenicity island in Japanese Helicobacter pylori isolates].

VacA, CagA proteins and cag pathogenicity island (PAI) were reported to be major virulence factors of Helicobacter pylori. By using specific antibodies, the expression of VacA and CagA was evaluated in Japanese isolates, together with vacuolating assay. To characterize the status of not only cagA, but entire cag PAI, H. pylori isolates were evaluated for cagA and 13 other cagPAI genes by Southern blot. VacA and CagA proteins were expressed in 87% and in 90%, respectively. Vacuolating assay was positive in 84% isolates. Most strains had all cag PAI genes and the only 6% were cag PAI deleted despite of retaining cagA gene. The majority of Japanese isolates were positive for VacA, CagA proteins and cag PAI, and the high prevalence of infection with virulence strains may contribute to the characteristics of H. pylori infection in Japan.