Molecular diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori and prevalence of virulence genes in Arequipa

Authors

Keywords:

Helicobacter pylori, glmM gene, vacA gene, cagA gene

Abstract

Introduction: Helicobacter pylori is one of the main causes of gastrointestinal disorders and affects approximately 50 % of the world's population. Multiple virulence factors cause its pathogenesis, including the vacA and cagA genes.

Objective: To report the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori and the virulence genes vacA and cagA, using histological and pathological analysis and molecular techniques.

Methods: A sample of 51 patients treated at the Gastroenterology Service with a suspected diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori gastritis was studied. For molecular diagnosis, the glmM gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction. This technique was also used to identify the vacA and cagA virulence genes.

Results: Helicobacter pylori was prevalent in 70.59 % of cases by molecular detection. The vacA and cagA genes were identified in 50.98 % and 21.57% of cases, respectively. Most of the positive samples belonged to women between the ages of 48 and 67, and more positive results were obtained with polymerase chain reaction amplification of the glmM gene than with pathological analysis.

Conclusions: A prevalence of strains with virulence genes was observed. The vacA gene was present in a higher proportion than the cagA gene. This study was the first to provide information on the prevalence of virulence genes in Helicobacter pylori strains in the region.

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Author Biographies

Valentina Ramos Álvarez, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Facultad de Medicina Humana. Arequipa.

Estudiante de pregrado de la Facultad de Medicina Humana

Johany Cecilia Sanchez Guillen, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Facultad de Medicina Humana. Arequipa.

Ingeniera en Biotecnología, Magister en Investigación en Biología de la Salud, RENACYT Nivel VII, Docente contratado

Sandra Yucra Sevillano, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Facultad de Medicina Humana. Arequipa.

Biólogo, Magister en Ciencias con Mención en Ecología y Gestión Ambiental, Docente contratado

Yuma Aracely Ita Balta, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Facultad de Ciencias Farmacéuticas Bioquímicas y Biotecnológicas. Arequipa.

Ingeniera en Biotecnología, Magister en Química del Medio Ambiente, Docente tiempo parcial

Alfredo Cornejo Manrique, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Facultad de Veterinaria y Zootecnia. Arequipa.

Estudiante en Medicina Veterinaria

Miguel Fernando Farfán Delgado, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Facultad de Medicina Humana. Arequipa.

Médico Patólogo, Magister en Salud Ocupacional y del Medio Ambiente, Doctor en Biología Molecular y Biotecnología. Docente contratado

Maria Cecilia Manrique Sam, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Facultad de Medicina Humana. Arequipa.

Médico Patólogo, Magister en Salud Ocupacional y del Medio Ambiente, Doctor en Biología Molecular y Biotecnología. Docente contratado

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Published

2025-10-11

How to Cite

1.
Ramos Álvarez V, Sanchez Guillen JC, Yucra Sevillano S, Ita Balta YA, Cornejo Manrique A, Farfán Delgado MF, et al. Molecular diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori and prevalence of virulence genes in Arequipa. Rev Cubana Inv Bioméd [Internet]. 2025 Oct. 11 [cited 2025 Oct. 13];44. Available from: https://revibiomedica.sld.cu/index.php/ibi/article/view/3640

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Section

ARTÍCULOS ORIGINALES