The Proteins of Type IV Secretion System as Promising Candidates for Helicobacter Pylori Vaccine Azad Khaledi ? , Abbas Bahador ? & Davoud Esmaeili ? Abstract-Helicobacter. pylori is a component of class 1 carcinogens and there is a close association between the incidence of gastric cancer and high prevalence of infection with this bacterium. The risk of gastric cancer associated with H. pylori infection in industrialized and developing countries is estimated to be 80% and 70% respectively. CagA is the important virulence factor in this bacterium and all of the strains involved in gastric cancer are CagA positive. This factor is secreted into host cells by type IV secretion system. CagA and type IV secretion system in H. pylori encoded by the cag pathogenicity islands (cag PAI) that encodes 30 proteins which are necessary for the pilus formation and function of type IV secretion system, so regarding to the role of this secretion system in secreting CagA and its function in pathogenesis and cancer development in humans and the role of different proteins of this secretion system such as canal and pilus formation and their necessity for function of these structures, it is possibly they are be appropriate candidates for design vaccine, because with inhibiting these proteins can stop canal and pilus formation and finally hinder CagA secretion into the host cells. # I. Review elicobacter pylori is a spiral-shaped gramnegative bacillus that it colonizes half the world's population (1). Chronic infection with this bacterium causing an increased risk for several infectious diseases such as gastritis, duodenal ulcers, hyperplasia, neoplasia and ect (2). H. pylori is one of the ancient microorganisms and its spread between human societies is return to sixty thousand years ago (3). H. pylori colonize the human gastric for years and even decades without anyadverse consequence (4). The risk factors for acquiring H. pylori are including poverty, the use of common sleeping devices, living in very crowded sittings such as boarding houses which raise the possibility of infection (5). H. pylori is component of the family of class 1 carcinogen and there is a high correlation between the incidence of gastric cancer and high prevalence of infection with this bacterium (6). Gastric cancer is the second common cancer worldwide and the fourteenth cause of death in the world and it is considered as a main epidemiological problem in the 21st century (7). The risk of gastric cancer associated with H. pylori infection in industrialized and developing countries are estimated to be 80%, and 70% respectively (8). H. pylori infection is usually asymptomatic chronic gastritis and between infected people the rate of chronic gastritis or gastric ulcer are 10%-15 % (8). H. pylori infection, exposure to nitrosamines, high-salt diet, smoking and low consumption of fruits and vegetables are major risk factors for gastric cancer. The high prevalence of H. pylori infection in the world and its role in gastric cancer and other diseases, and the emergence of antibiotic resistance strains have caused different therapeutic and prevention methods recommended against infection with bacterium (9) . It should be noted, only patients with symptoms are treated and asymptomatic patients are at risk of serious problems such as atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer as well after cure, recurrence or reinfection might be take place (10), particularly in developing countries (11). Thus the need for vaccines in general that can control infection is felt. The immune mechanisms against H.pylori is mediated by innate and adaptive immunity, the innate immunity is including gastric acidity, gastric peristalsis, loss of gastric epithelial cells, gastric mucosa, saliva and etc (12). In total, acquired immunity is consists of the cellular and humeral immunity. Despite stimulate antibody production, clearance and complete protection against H. pylori infection is caused by cellular immunity (13). So to eradication of this bacterium, The strong Th1 response to protection (IFN? production is necessary for protection) and Th2 response (IL-10) to reduce inflammation during H. pylori infection is required (13). Some H. pylori native and recombinant antigens such as urease, Heat Shock proteins, CagA, VacA, HP-NAP, catalase (14) HpaA (15), SOD (16) are used as vaccine and the efficacy of therapeutic and prophylactic immunization of these antigens have been shown. several studies tried to discover more protective antigens in mice including Hp0410 (neuraminyllactosebinding hemagglutinin HpaA homologue) (17), Tpx (thiol peroxidase) (18) outer membrane proteins, alkyl 19), but other studies have attempted to use from proved previous protective antigens in new forms to show their treatment aspect and prophylaxis efficiency in mice (20). The first evidence of the efficacy of protection against H. pylori has been provided by urease immunization in mouse model and showed that the both types of recombinant vaccines UreB or UreA are effective when they used in the oral forms (21). The protective role of HP-NAP has been evaluated in mouse model, in orally the mice with recombinant HP-NAP along with LTK63, LTK63 nonmutant strains as adjuvant were immunized and following challenge with H. pylori showed protection against gastric colonization of the majority of vaccinated mice (22). The protective efficacy of native purified VacA given along with LTK63 as an adjuvant was proved in oral immunization in mice (23). Other studies demonstrated the same (24). Recombinant CagA in companying with was used in mice and the results showed this combination to be protective against gastric colonization upon consequence H. pylori trial intragastrically challenge (25). Combination of CagA, VacA and HP-NAP was used as a therapeutic vaccine in the model of H. pylori experimental infection of beagle dog and presented good efficacy without any sideeffects owing to immunization. Following challenge, the decrease in H. pylori colonization and gastric inflammation was observed in vaccinated dogs (26). A study revealed recombinant vaccine proteins CagA + VacA + HP-NAP has been immunogenic and safe in clinical phase (27). The emphasis of all studies on that protection against H. pylori would be acquired by vaccination through animal models; but unfortunately complete protection is seldom achieved, it appear that this depend on optimization of the antigen mixture, adjuvant and route and regimen of immunization and to get this aim the appropriate combination is very important (28). In addition, efficiency in animals is not essentially indicative of efficacy in humans (28). Due to inadequate knowledge upon mechanisms of protective immunity against H. pylori till this moment there has been no licensed vaccine against H. pylori, Until now there has been no licensed vaccine against H. pylori. The reasons for this are: inadequate knowledge about the mechanisms of protective immunity against H. pylori, thus extensive research is needed to identifying the mechanisms of protective immunity against H. pylori and the vaccine formulations should be known to be able to preventing and treatment of infection (28), regarding known role of CagA and other main carcinogens factors, the supposition is that the vaccine should be targeting specifically these factors (28). In other words, a vaccine is valuable for us to prevent gastric cancer rather than prevent colonization of H. pylori in human (28). The studies upon new vaccine candidates, efficient adjuvants, regimens and routes of application is go on yet (28). In continue we want to explain in this brief about type IV secretion system and introduce its proteins as good candidates for vaccine. In several gram-negative bacteria, such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Bordetella pertussis, Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Brucella suis have type IV secretion system and in these bacteria this system is used to transfer macromolecules (such as DNA, nucleic acid and protein complexes), (29). Type IV secretion system in H. pylori encoded by the cag pathogenicity islands (cag PAI) that encodes 30 proteins which are necessary for the pilus formation and function of type IV secretion system (29). Type IV secretion system is a molecular pump that facilitates the interaction between host and pathogen or injects toxins into the host cells (30). According to the medical literature in the human H. pylori species, type IV secretion system is divided into three different groups, first group (Tfs3, group 1) which plays an important role in shaping the genome plasticity of bacterium, the second group is called Com B system which plays an important role in insertion and integration of environmental DNA fragments into the itself genome. At last the third group there is only in H. pylori pathogenic strains which play role in translocation of protein effectors (such as CagA) into the eukaryote cells (27). CagA toxin and type IV secretion system is encoded by cag PAI, this pathogenicity island is a 40 kDa fragment of DNA and transfer of it occurs horizontally (31). Based on the nomenclature used for A. tumefaciens T4SS, this system generally contains 12 protein which these proteins are called Vir (30). The H. pylori cag PAI encoding T4SS (Cag-T4SS) initially have been identified by comparing the sequence with those of the VirB /D A. tumefaciens (30). These proteins assemble together to form three interlinked subparts: a cytoplasmic ? inner membrane complex, a double membrane -spanning channel and an external pilus (32). The cytoplasmic ? inner membrane complex is consists of three NTPases (HP0544, HP0532 , HP0524), HP0529 and HP0530; the trans-membranes pore complex (HP0532, HP0528, HP0527; as well as called 'the core complex') creates a channel from the inner to the outer membrane; the HP0546 and HP0539 proteins create external pilus (32). Other components are crucial for the creation of the T4SS compound: the role of HP0523 is insertion of the system in the periplasm and finally HP0544, with the unknown role, is frequently related to HP0544 (32). Regarding to the role of type IV secretion in secretion of CagA and its role in pathogenesis and cancer formation in humans and the role of different proteins of type IV secretion such as canal and pilus formation and their necessity for function of these structures, it is possibly they are be appropriate candidates for design vaccine, because with inhibiting these proteins can stop canal and pilus formation and finally can prevent of CagA secretion into the host cells, of course these proteins should be used in combination ![21. Michetti P, Corthésy-Theulaz I, Davin C, Haas R, Vaney A-C, Heitz M, et al. Immunization of BALB/c mice against Helicobacter felis infection with Helicobacter pylori urease. Gastroenterology. 1994; 107 (4):1002-11. 22. Satin B, Del Giudice G, Della Bianca V, Dusi S, Laudanna C, Tonello F, et al. The neutrophilactivating protein (HP-NAP) of Helicobacter pylori is a protective antigen and a major virulence factor.The Proteins of Type IV Secretion System as Promising Candidates for Helicobacter Pylori VaccineVolume XV Issue III Version I](image-2.png "") 11. Niv Y. H pylori recurrence after successfuleradication. World journal of gastroenterology: WJG.2008;14(10):1477.12. Robinson K, Argent RH, Atherton JC. Theinflammatory and immune response to Helicobacterpylori infection. Best Practice & Research ClinicalGastroenterology. 2007;21(2):237-59.13. Taylor JM, Ziman ME, Huff JL, Moroski NM, VajdyM,SolnickJV.Helicobacterpylorilipopolysaccharide promotes a Th1 type immuneresponse in immunized mice. Vaccine. 2006; 24(23):4987-94.Year 2 01514. Del Giudice G, Covacci A, Telford JL, Montecucco C, Rappuoli R. The design of vaccines against Helicobacter pylori and their development. Annual review of immunology. 2001;19(1):523-63.15. Nyström J, Svennerholm A-M. Oral immunizationVolume XV Issue III Version I D D D D ) Cwith HpaA affords therapeutic protective immunity against H. pylori that is reflected by specific mucosal immune responses. Vaccine. 2007;25(14):2591-8. 16. Every AL, Stent A, Moloney MB, Ng GZ, Skene CD, Edwards SJ, et al. Evaluation of superoxide dismutase from Helicobacter pylori as a protective vaccine antigen. Vaccine. 2011;29(7):1514-8. 17. Hongying F, Xianbo W, Fang Y, Yang B, Beiguo L. Oral immunization with recombinant Lactobacillus acidophilus expressing the adhesin hp0410 of Helicobacter pylori induces mucosal and systemic immune responses. Clinical and Vaccine Immunology. 2014; 21(2):126-32. 18. Stent A, Every AL, Ng GZ, Chionh YT, Ong LS,(EdwardsSJ,etal.HelicobacterpyloriMedical Researchthiolperoxidase as a protective antigen in single-and multi-component vaccines. Vaccine. 2012; 30 (50): 7214-20. 19. Lü L, Zeng H-q, Wang P-l, Shen W, Xiang T-x, Mei Z-c. Oral immunization with recombinant Mycobacterium smegmatis expressing the outer membrane protein 26-kilodalton antigen confersGlobal Journal ofprophylactic protection against Helicobacter pylori infection. Clinical and Vaccine Immunology. 2011; 18 (11):1957-61. 20. O'Riordan AA, Morales VA, Mulligan L, Faheem N, Windle HJ, Kelleher DP. Alkyl hydroperoxide reductase: a candidate Helicobacter pylori vaccine. Vaccine. 2012; 30 (26): 3876-84. © 2015 Global Journals Inc. (US) with H.pylori virulence factors in multi-component vaccines. ## II. Acknowledgement We are grateful to our colleagues at Mashhad University of medical sciences for their advices in this work. ## Conflict of interest None declared. * Lack of association of conjunctival MALT lymphoma with Chlamydiae or Helicobacter pylori in a cohort of Chinese patients. Medical science monitor: international medical journal of experimental and clinical research J-PCai J-WCheng X-YMa Y-ZLi YLi XHuang 2012 18 R84 * Helicobacter pylori infection and related gastrointestinal diseases DMakola DAPeura SECrowe Journal of clinical gastroenterology 41 6 2007 * Age of the association between Helicobacter pylori and man YMoodley BLinz RPBond MNieuwoudt HSoodyall CMSchlebusch PLoS pathogens 8 5 e1002693 2012 * Consequences of Helicobacter pylori infection in children LPacifico CAnania JFOsborn FFerraro CChiesa World journal of gastroenterology: WJG 16 41 5181 2010 * Contribution of HLA-DQA gene to host's response against Hellcobacter pylori. The Lancet TAzuma JKonishi YTanaka MHirai SIto TKato 1994 343 * Helicobacter pylori eradication to prevent gastric cancer in a high-risk region of China: a randomized controlled trial Bc-YWong SKLam WMWong JSChen TTZheng REFeng Jama 291 2 2004 * Cancer incidence in five continents DMParkin CMuir SWhelan YGao JFerlay JPowell International Agency for Research on Cancer VI 1992 * Coexpression of Helicobacter pylori's proteins CagA and HspB induces cell proliferation in AGS gastric epithelial cells, independently from the bacterial infection ADe Luca ABaldi PRusso ATodisco LAltucci NGiardullo Cancer research 63 19 2003 * Recent developments in Helicobacter pylori vaccination JKusters Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology 36 234 2001 * Diagnosis and epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection XCalvet RamírezLázaro MJLehours PMégraud F Helicobacter 18 s1 2013 * The Journal of experimental medicine 191 9 2000 * Development of a mouse model of Helicobacter pylori infection that mimics human disease MMarchetti BArico DBurroni NFigura RRappuoli PGhiara Science 267 5204 1995 * Protection against Helicobacter pylori infection in mice by intragastric vaccination with H. pylori antigens is achieved using a non-toxic mutant of E. coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) as adjuvant MMarchetti MRossi VGiannelli MMGiuliani MPizza SCensini Vaccine 16 1 1998 * Vaccination Against Helicobacter pylori in Non-Human Primate Models and Humans CLee Scandinavian journal of immunology 53 5 2001 * Therapeutic vaccination against Helicobacter pylori in the beagle dog experimental model: safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy GRossi PRuggiero SPeppoloni LPancotto DFortuna LLauretti Infection and immunity 72 6 2004 * Helicobacter pylori CagA: from pathogenic mechanisms to its use as an anti-cancer vaccine MStein PRuggiero RRappuoli FBagnoli Frontiers in immunology 4 2013 * Helicobacter pylori: A Brief History of a Still Lacking Vaccine PRuggiero SCensini Diseases 2 2 2014 * Architecture of the Helicobacter pylori Cag-type IV secretion system LTerradot GWaksman FEBS Journal 278 8 2011 * Assembly and molecular mode of action of the Helicobacter pylori Cag type IV secretion apparatus WFischer FEBS Journal 278 8 2011 * Structural and functional aspects of unique type IV secretory components in the Helicobacter pylori cag-pathogenicity island LCendron GZanotti FEBS Journal 278 8 2011 * Composite system mediates two-step DNA uptake into Helicobacter pylori KStingl SMüller GScheidgen-Kleyboldt MClausen BMaier Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107 3 2010 * The Proteins of Type IV Secretion System as Promising Candidates for Helicobacter Pylori Vaccine