TY - JOUR
T1 - Beyond Low Prevalence
T2 - Exploring Antibiotic Resistance and Virulence Profiles in Sri Lankan Helicobacter pylori with Comparative Genomics
AU - Fauzia, Kartika Afrida
AU - Rathnayake, Jeewantha
AU - Doohan, Dalla
AU - Lamawansa, Meegahalande Durage
AU - Alfaray, Ricky Indra
AU - Batsaikhan, Saruuljavkhlan
AU - Phuc, Bui Hoang
AU - Waskito, Langgeng Agung
AU - Tuan, Vo Phuoc
AU - Kabamba, Evariste Tshibangu
AU - Ansari, Shamshul
AU - Matsumoto, Takashi
AU - Akada, Junko
AU - Matsuhisa, Takeshi
AU - Yamaoka, Yoshio
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 by the authors.
PY - 2025/2
Y1 - 2025/2
N2 - Helicobacter pylori infects at least half the population worldwide, and its highly diverse genomic content correlates with its geographic distribution because of its prolonged relationship with humans. The extremely low infection prevalence alongside low inflammation severity observed in some countries might be caused by strains with low virulence potential. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whole-genome analysis datasets of Sri Lankan H. pylori strains. H. pylori strains were isolated from biopsy specimens and underwent whole-genome sequencing to investigate their antibiotic resistance and virulence potential. The prevalence of H. pylori infection in Sri Lanka is extremely low (1.7% in a previous study), and only six H. pylori strains were successfully isolated from bacterial culture. Antibiotic resistance analysis showed a high prevalence of metronidazole resistance (83.3%, five out of six strains), and investigation of the related genes showed truncation of the rdxA and frxA genes and single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the rdxA, frxA, ribF, omp11, and fur genes. Most virulence genes of the 144 assessed were present, except for the cag pathogenicity island (cagPAI) (absent in four out of six strains), babA/B/C, and tlpB genes. An incomplete type 4 secretion system (tfs) was found in three strains. A pan-genome analysis with non-Sri Lankan H. pylori strains showed that the htpX gene was found only in Sri Lankan strains (p-corrected = 0.0008). A phylogenetic analysis showed that the Sri Lankan strains clustered with strains from hpAsia2 and hpEurope. This comparative genomic study shows that H. pylori strains with low virulence potential are present in countries with a low prevalence of infection and disease severity, indicating a strain-type geographical pattern. The tailored guidelines for screening and treatment strategy for each region are necessary to obtain effective and efficient eradication.
AB - Helicobacter pylori infects at least half the population worldwide, and its highly diverse genomic content correlates with its geographic distribution because of its prolonged relationship with humans. The extremely low infection prevalence alongside low inflammation severity observed in some countries might be caused by strains with low virulence potential. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whole-genome analysis datasets of Sri Lankan H. pylori strains. H. pylori strains were isolated from biopsy specimens and underwent whole-genome sequencing to investigate their antibiotic resistance and virulence potential. The prevalence of H. pylori infection in Sri Lanka is extremely low (1.7% in a previous study), and only six H. pylori strains were successfully isolated from bacterial culture. Antibiotic resistance analysis showed a high prevalence of metronidazole resistance (83.3%, five out of six strains), and investigation of the related genes showed truncation of the rdxA and frxA genes and single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the rdxA, frxA, ribF, omp11, and fur genes. Most virulence genes of the 144 assessed were present, except for the cag pathogenicity island (cagPAI) (absent in four out of six strains), babA/B/C, and tlpB genes. An incomplete type 4 secretion system (tfs) was found in three strains. A pan-genome analysis with non-Sri Lankan H. pylori strains showed that the htpX gene was found only in Sri Lankan strains (p-corrected = 0.0008). A phylogenetic analysis showed that the Sri Lankan strains clustered with strains from hpAsia2 and hpEurope. This comparative genomic study shows that H. pylori strains with low virulence potential are present in countries with a low prevalence of infection and disease severity, indicating a strain-type geographical pattern. The tailored guidelines for screening and treatment strategy for each region are necessary to obtain effective and efficient eradication.
KW - antibiotic resistance
KW - comparative genomics
KW - Helicobacter pylori
KW - virulence factors
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85219035585&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/microorganisms13020420
DO - 10.3390/microorganisms13020420
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85219035585
SN - 2076-2607
VL - 13
JO - Microorganisms
JF - Microorganisms
IS - 2
M1 - 420
ER -