Role of proteolytic processing of the Helicobacter pylori vacuolating cytotoxin,VacA, in toxin activity

Helicobacter pylori is a causative agent of gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer. Vacuolating Cytotoxin A (VacA) is a major virulence factor of the bacteria, which is directly involved in disease causation. VacA mode of action, and how this action correlates with cancer development, has been poorly understood for the last three decades since its discovery. My research provided insight into VacA disease-associated activation inside host-cells, and which parts of VacA are involved in this activation. These findings highlight novel perspectives of VacA activity that enhance our future opportunities for discovering effective therapeutics against VacA-associated disease.