Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis of 16S rRNA Sequences Identified Two lineages of H. pylori Strains Detected from Different Regions in Sudan Suggestive of Differential Evolution

Abstract

BackgroundH. pylori is ubiquitous among humans, and one of the best studied examples of an intimate association between bacteria and humans. Under several diverse socio-demographic factors in Sudan, a continuous increase in the prevalence rate of H. pylori infection has been noticed which represents a major public health challenge. In this study, we analyzed the molecular evolution of H. pylori Strains detected from different ethnic and regions of Sudan using 16S rRNA gene and phylogenetic approach. Materials and methodsA total of 75 gastric biopsies taken from patients who had been referred for endoscopy from different regions of Sudan. The DNA extraction was done by using the guanidine chloride method. Two sets of primers (universal and specific for H. pylori) were used to amplify the 16S ribosomal gene. Sanger sequencing was performed; then Blast these sequences with those available in the NCBI nucleotide database. The evolutionary aspects were analyzed using a MEGA7 software. ResultMolecular detection of H. pylori has shown that 28 (37.33%) of patients were positive for H. pylori. Bivariate analysis has found no significant differences exhibited across sociodemographic, endoscopy series and H. pylori infection. Nucleotide variations were found at five nucleotide positions (positions 219, 305, 578, 741 and 763-764) and one insertion mutation (750_InsC_751) was present in sixty-seven percent (7/12) of our strains. The phylogenetic tree diverged into two lineages. ConclusionThe phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA sequences identified two lineages of H. pylori strains detected from different regions in Sudan. Sex mutations were detected in regions of the 16S rRNA not closely associated with either tetracycline or tRNA binding sites. 66.67% of them were located in the central domain of 16S rRNA. Studying the effect of these mutations on the functions of 16S rRNA molecules in protein synthesis and antibiotic resistance is of great importance.