Functional Adaptation of BabA, the H. pylori ABO Blood Group Antigen Binding Adhesin

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1098801
• Publication Date: 2004-07-22T20:38:37Z
• Authors: Marina Aspholm-Hu...; Giedrius Dailide; Martina Lahmann; Awdhesh Kalia; Dag Ilver; Niamh Roche; Susanne Vikström; Rolf Sjöström; Sara Lindén; Anna Bäckström; Carina Lundberg; Anna Arnqvist; Jafar Mahdavi; Ulf J. Nilsson; Billie Velapatiño; Robert H. Gilman; Markus Gerhard; Teresa Alarcon; Manuel López-Brea; Teruko Nakazawa; James G. Fox; Pelayo Correa; Maria Gloria Domi...; Guillermo I. Pere...; Martin J. Blaser; Staffan Normark; Ingemar Carlstedt; Stefan Oscarson; Susann Teneberg; Douglas E. Berg; Thomas Borén
• Keywords: Blood group antigens

Adherence by Helicobacter pylori increases the risk of gastric disease. Here, we report that more than 95% strains bind fucosylated blood group antigen A, B, and O antigens (generalists), whereas 60% adherent South American Amerindian best (specialists). This specialization coincides with unique predominance in these Amerindians. Strains differed about 1500-fold binding affinities, diversifying selection was evident babA sequences. We propose cycles for increased decreased bacterial adherence contribute to diversity have led gradual replacement generalist specialist O-dominant human populations.