New microbiological features.

Abstract

Recent developments in the microbiology of Helicobacter pylori have aimed to improve our understanding of the organism in order to define better methods of diagnosis and cure, and to explore possible methods of prevention. Investigations of the basic biochemistry of the bacterium have revealed many interesting physiological anomalies including characteristics of a eukaryotic parasite rather than a bacterium. The latest in a growing list of adhesins to be identified shows specificity for the Lewis b antigen, possibly providing an explanation for the postulated link between blood group and peptic ulceration. However, there are many contradictory features in the H. pylori adhesin story in urgent need of resolution. The search for the ulcerogenic strain has revealed only one possible candidate to date, the cagA phenotype, which appears to be inflammatory. Recently, the cloning frenzy has resulted in the sequencing of a multitude of putative virulence factors, the challenge now is to prove their importance in relevant animal models.