determination of the status of helicobacter pylori saba gene in relation to clinical findings

background : many  helicobacter pylori strains express adhesin proteins that bind to specific  host-cell  macromolecule  receptors,  like sialic acid binding adhesion ( saba ).    saba-expressing  strains have been associated with gastric cancer  and  negatively  associated   with  duodenal   ulcers. the  aim  of  this study  was  to  determine   the  status  of   saba   gene  of   h.  pylori   and  its association  with the clinical diseases in iranian dyspeptic pateints. methods :  eighty six biopsy block samples  that were positive  for h. pylori according geimsa staining were included in  this study. genomic dna was extracted  from paraffin-embedded  gastric biopsies  obtained  from dyspeptic patients.     the     identity     of     helicobacter      genus     was     determined through amplification  of 16s rrna which followed  by saba pcr using the gene-specific primers.  the prevalence  of saba gene in three clinical groups including gastritis, gastric ulcer, and gastric atrophy was determined. the association  of  saba   gene  and  clinical  outcomes  was  assessed  statistically using chi-square  test. a p- value less than <0.05 was considered  statistically significant. results:   total  of 86 patients  was  included  in this study.  seventeen  cases out  of  86  (23.6%)   were  yielded   a  positive   result  for   saba   gene.  the prevalence  of saba    gene   was   28.6%   in   both   dyspeptic   and   gastric atrophy  patients  as compared with peptic ulcers (19.2%). conclusion :   for  a  first  time  the  frequency   of   saba   gene  using  pcr methods  was reported.  the current  study demonstrated  that the saba   gene status was not associated with clinical diseases. in limited number of studied samples,  higher  frequency  of   saba   gene  among  dyspeptic   and  atrophic patients was found.