Published online Nov 28, 2016. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i44.9718
Peer-review started: June 29, 2016
First decision: August 2, 2016
Revised: August 17, 2016
Accepted: September 6, 2016
Article in press: September 6, 2016
Published online: November 28, 2016
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a kind of chronic infectious pathogen which can cause chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, gastric cancer and other diseases. The genetic structure of the pathogenic genes of H. pylori varies largely, which contributes to the differences in virulence among various strains, and in clinical symptoms. Virulence genes of H. pylori can be categorized into three main classes: those related to adhesion and colonization, those related to gastric mucosal injury, and others. This review focuses on the relationship between genetic polymorphisms of the three classes of virulence genes of H. pylori and diseases. Most of the genetic polymorphisms of the main virulence factors of H. pylori are summarized in this paper.
Core tip: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the causative agent of gastrointestinal diseases such as atrophic gastritis and peptic ulcers. Manifestations associated with chronic H. pylori infection vary considerably among distinct geographic regions and these differences have been attributed at least in part to polymorphisms of H. pylori genes, particularly those encoding virulence factors. There are several reviews for polymorphisms of H. pylori genes. However, this is the first review to report the relationship between genetic polymorphisms and diseases. Virulence genes of H. pylori can be categorized into three main classes. This helps to understand the gene polymorphisms of pathogenic H. pylori in patients with different types of gastrointestinal diseases.