Functional Adaptation of BabA, the H. pylori ABO Blood Group Antigen Binding Adhesin
Author
Summary, in English
Adherence by Helicobacter pylori increases the risk of gastric disease. Here, we report that more than 95% of strains that bind fucosylated blood group antigen bind A, B, and O antigens (generalists), whereas 60% of adherent South American Amerindian strains bind blood group O antigens best (specialists). This specialization coincides with the unique predominance of blood group O in these Amerindians. Strains differed about 1500-fold in binding affinities, and diversifying selection was evident in babA sequences. We propose that cycles of selection for increased and decreased bacterial adherence contribute to babA diversity and that these cycles have led to gradual replacement of generalist binding by specialist binding in blood group O–dominant human populations.
Department/s
Publishing year
2004
Language
English
Pages
519-522
Publication/Series
Science
Volume
305
Issue
5683
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Topic
- Basic Medicine
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1095-9203