EPHA2 and infection: Furthermore, infection of MKN74 cells with various H. pylori reference strains and H. pylori clinical isolates expressing different cagA and vacA genotypes also induced EPHA2 downregulation 24 h post-infection, showing that this effect is not specific of laboratory-modified strains, thereby corroborating the independence of EPHA2 downregulation from these virulence factors (Figure 1d).