Abstract
Isolated for the first time in 1982 from human gastric biopsy, Helicobacter pylori is responsible for gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer. A pathogenicity island acquired by horizontal transfer, coding for a type IV secretion system, is a major determinant of virulence. The infection is now treated with antibiotics, and vaccines are in preparation. The geographic distribution suggests coevolution of man and Helicobacter pylori.
MeSH terms
- Adult
- Animals
- Bacterial Vaccines
- Biological Evolution
- Child
- Genetic Variation
- Helicobacter Infections / epidemiology
- Helicobacter Infections / microbiology*
- Helicobacter Infections / prevention & control
- Helicobacter Infections / transmission
- Helicobacter pylori / genetics*
- Helicobacter pylori / immunology
- Helicobacter pylori / pathogenicity*
- Humans
- Peptic Ulcer / microbiology
- Stomach / microbiology*
- Stomach Neoplasms / microbiology
- Virulence