Characterization of metronidazole resistant Helicobacter pylori

The high prevalence of metronidazole resistant Helicobacter pylori (MtzR- Hp ) in relation to gastroduodenal disease is of concern. The study shows that MtzR- Hp is significantly higher in non-ulcer dyspepsia patients ( p = 0.005), expresses lower Le b ( p = 0.0365) and babA2 ( p = 0.03). RAPD profiles show the existence of high genetic diversity among strains and suggest a probable involvement of mutations in short segment of gene sequences in MtzR- Hp . rdxA gene showed de novo mutations with no specific mutation sites, rendering it unsuitable as metronidazole resistant marker. Induced MtzR- Hp under sub-optimal metronidazole concentration affected flagellin and adhesin-thiol peroxidase (TP) expression as shown by 2D-PAGE. Furthermore, these MtzR- Hp were non-motile and showed the lack of flagella. It is therefore hypothesized that the different expression of various TP isoforms in the presence of sub-lethal metronidazole concentration may have a role in metronidazole resistance.

Author dc:creator

• LUI SOOK YIN

• <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>, metronidazole resistance, 2D-PAGE, <i>rdxA</i>, flagellin, adhesin-thiol peroxidase