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New evidence of common gastric infection as invasive pathogen may explain antibiotic resistance

Date:
October 16, 2010
Source:
American Society for Microbiology
Summary:
Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium largely associated with gastritis and peptic ulcers in humans, may invade and replicate in gastric epithelial cells say researchers from China. This discovery disputes prior views of H. pylori as a noninvasive pathogen and could offer significant insight into its ability to resist antibacterial therapy and its biological life cycle as a whole.
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Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium largely associated with gastritis and peptic ulcers in humans, may invade and replicate in gastric epithelial cells say researchers from China. This discovery disputes prior views of H. pylori as a noninvasive pathogen and could offer significant insight into its ability to resist antibacterial therapy and its biological life cycle as a whole.

The details are reported in the October 2010 issue of the journal Infection and Immunity.

H. pylori infects more than 50% of the human population in developing countries, however, symptoms such as chronic active gastritis and peptic ulcers only manifest in 10 to 20% of those infected. Until now, H. pylori has been generally considered noninvasive, but current research indicates that it may replicate on the cell membrane ultimately forming a microcolony.

"This suggests that H. pylori can be considered a facultative intracellular organism," say the researchers.

In the study testing was conducted to determine if H. pylori could invade and multiply in gastric epithelial cells. Results showed a 5-fold increase in the number of bacteria cultured from infected cells 12 hours following infection when compared with the number of invading cells observed after 2 and a half hours. Additionally, the researchers note that only cell-penetrating antibiotics may effectively kill intracellular replicating H. pylori bacteria.

"The multiplication of H. pylori within cells provides a niche for its resistance to antibacterial therapy and has a significant impact on its biological life cycle," say the researchers.


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Materials provided by American Society for Microbiology. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Y.-T. Chu, Y.-H. Wang, J.-J. Wu, H.-Y. Lei. Invasion and Multiplication of Helicobacter pylori in Gastric Epithelial Cells and Implications for Antibiotic Resistance. Infection and Immunity, 2010; 78 (10): 4157 DOI: 10.1128/IAI.00524-10

Cite This Page:

American Society for Microbiology. "New evidence of common gastric infection as invasive pathogen may explain antibiotic resistance." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 16 October 2010. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101016080016.htm>.
American Society for Microbiology. (2010, October 16). New evidence of common gastric infection as invasive pathogen may explain antibiotic resistance. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 12, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101016080016.htm
American Society for Microbiology. "New evidence of common gastric infection as invasive pathogen may explain antibiotic resistance." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101016080016.htm (accessed December 12, 2024).

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