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Urease Activity and Urea Gene Sequencing of Coccoid Forms of H. pylori Induced by Different Factors

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Abstract

Helicobacter pylori exists in two morphologic forms: spiral shaped and coccoid. The nonculturable coccoid forms were believed to be the morphologic manifestations of cell death for a long time. However, recent studies indicate the viability of such forms. This form of H. pylori is now suspected to play a role in the transmission of the bacteria and is partly responsible for relapse of infection after antimicrobial treatment. Urease activity of H. pylori is an important maintenance factor. Determination of urease activity and possible mutations in the DNA sequences of coccoid bacteria will hence contribute to the understanding of pathogenesis of infections, which these forms might be responsible for. In this study, our aim was to analyze the urease activity and investigate the urease gene sequences of coccoid H. pylori forms induced by different factors with respect to the spiral form. For this purpose, the urease activities of H. pylori NCTC 11637 standard strain and two clinical isolates were examined before and after transformation of the cells to coccoid forms by different methods such as exposure to amoxicillin, aerobiosis, cold starvation, and aging. The effects of these conditions on the urease gene were examined by the amplification of 411-bp ureA gene and 115-bp ureB gene regions by PCR technique and sequencing of the ureA gene. The urease activities of coccoid cells were found to be lower than those of the spiral form. ureA and ureB gene regions were amplified in all coccoid cells by PCR. Inducing the change to coccoid form by different methods was found to have no effect on the nucleotide sequence of the ureA gene. These results show that the urease gene region of coccoid H. pylori is highly protected under various mild environmental conditions.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant from the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK; Project No. SBAG-HD068) and by Baskent University Medical Research Committee (Project No. DA-0528).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Baskent University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Fusun Can, Muge Demirbilek & Hande Arslan

  2. Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Ceren Karahan, Istar Dolapci & Alper Tekeli

  3. Baskent Universitesi Tip Fakultesi Baglica Kampusu, Eskisehir yolu 20.Km, Etimesgut, Ankara, Turkey

    Fusun Can

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  1. Fusun Can
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Correspondence to Fusun Can.

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Can, F., Karahan, C., Dolapci, I. et al. Urease Activity and Urea Gene Sequencing of Coccoid Forms of H. pylori Induced by Different Factors. Curr Microbiol 56, 150–155 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-007-9047-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-007-9047-y

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