- Helicobacter pylori, formerly known as Campylobacter pylori, is a Gram-negative, spiral-shaped bacterium approximately 3 µm in length.
- It was first discovered in 1983 by Barry Marshall and Robin Warren, who later received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their groundbreaking work.
- This bacterium is uniquely adapted to colonize the human stomach, specifically the gastric epithelium and the mucous layer, where it thrives despite the harsh acidic environment with a pH of less than 2. Its ability to survive in such extreme conditions is one of its most distinctive features.
- Globally, Helicobacter pylori infects approximately 50% of the human population, though infection rates vary significantly across different regions.
- The exact mode of transmission remains unclear, but it is predicted to occur through fecal-oral or oral-oral routes. Factors such as poor hygiene and crowded living conditions are believed to contribute to its spread.
- While the majority of infected individuals remain asymptomatic, a minority may develop serious gastrointestinal diseases. These include chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, gastric adenocarcinoma (a type of stomach cancer), and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma.
- Helicobacter pylori is a microaerophilic organism, meaning it requires low levels of oxygen to grow.
- Its spiral shape and Gram-negative cell wall structure contribute to its motility and ability to penetrate the stomach’s mucous layer.
- The bacterium is highly adapted to its human host, and its colonization of the gastric epithelium is a key factor in its pathogenicity.
- Despite its widespread prevalence, the mechanisms by which it causes disease in only a subset of infected individuals remain an active area of research. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies for Helicobacter pylori-related diseases.
- Helicobacter pylori resources: Taxonomy Browser NCBI
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