Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Helicobacter”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 487 records · Page 27Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Evaluation of the efficacy and tolerability of four different therapeutic regimens for the Helicobacter pylori eradication.

The aim of our study is to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of four different therapeutic regimens for Helicobacter pylori eradication. One-hundred and thirty-two consecutive patients suffering from either peptic ulcer or non-ulcer dyspepsia, with Helicobacter pylori infection, were allocated to one of the following 4 groups with different therapeutic regimens: A) omeprazole 20 mg bid for 14 days/amoxycillin 1000 mg bid for 14 days/tinidazole 500 mg bid for 14 days (30 patients, 13 with peptic ulcer); B) omeprazole 20 mg bid for 14 days/amoxycillin 1000 mg bid for 14 days (41 patients, 23 with peptic ulcer); C) omeprazole 20 mg bid for 14 days/azithromycin 500 mg/day for 3 days for 2 consecutive weeks (25 patients, 12 with peptic ulcer); D) omeprazole 20 mg/day for 7 days/clarithromycin 250 mg bid for 7 days/tinidazole 500 mg bid for 7 days/ (36 patients, 14 with peptic ulcer). The Helicobacter pylori status was evaluated by means of histology, culture and urease test, at entry and 8 weeks after treatment. 2 group A, B and D patients, 1 D patient didn't complete the treatment. In evaluable patients, the Helicobacter pylori eradication was obtained in 24 patients of group A (85.71%), in 24 of group B (58.98%), in 11 of group C (45.83%) and in 24 of group D (70.58%). On intention-to-treat analysis, Helicobacter pylori eradication was 80% in group A, 56.09% in group B, 44% in group D and 66.67% in group D. Sideeffects occurred in 6 patients of group A (20.68%), in 5 of group B (12.5%), in 3 group D (8.82%) and none of group C. In conclusion, triple therapy with omeprazole/clarithro-mycin/tinidazole is better for cost/benefit ratio; omeprazole/amoxycillin/tinidazole is more effective than others regimens in the Helicobacter pylori eradication, but causes more side effects; double therapy with omeprazole/azithromycin is the most tolerable and the least efficacy for Helicobacter pylori eradication.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Detection of Helicobacter pylori in 201 stomach biopsies using the polymerase chain reaction, histological staining (H&E/Giemsa) and immunohistochemistry].

Helicobacter Pylori is believed to be an essential etiologic agent of type B chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer disease in humans. Recent reports have also suggested a role for these organisms in the development of gastric carcinoma and MALT-Lymphoma. A variety of diagnostic procedures are used for the identification of Helicobacter Pylori in clinical samples. 201 gastric biopsy (164 antral and 37 body biopsy specimens) were obtained from 164 patients with endoscopic abnormalities. These samples were studied for the detection of the presence of Helicobacter Pylori by histological staining (EE/Giemsa), immunohistochemistry and PCR by using a primer pair derived from the nucleotide sequence of the Urease A gene of Helicobacter Pylori. Specific amplification of a 411 base pair DNA fragment from all strain of Helicobacter Pylori tested was achieved. Of the 201 gastric biopsy analyzed, 63 (31%) were infected with Helicobacter Pylori on the basis of both histological and immunohistochemical staining, and 81 (41%) were positive with PCR (P < 0.001). Our results support a role for PCR in the rapid and highly sensitive and specific identification of Helicobacter Pylori in gastric biopsy specimens.

Azure Stains↗
PubMed1997

Family treatment of symptomatic children with Helicobacter pylori infection.

BACKGROUND: Familial clustering of Helicobacter pylori infection has been reported. We tested the hypothesis that simultaneously treating all Helicobacter pylori positive family contacts of infected symptomatic children results in lower treatment failure. METHODS: Relatives of 47 children (index) with Helicobacter pylori gastritis had endoscopy to assess prevalence of infection in first degree cohabiting relatives. Controls included 60 children with dyspepsia and Helicobacter pylori gastritis whose infected family contacts were not treated. Index children, siblings younger than 18 years of age and control children received a 2-week course of amoxicillin and tinidazole. Parents of index children and their siblings over 18 years of age received a 2-week course of Colloidal Bismuth Subcytrate and tinidazole. The eradication rate in index children and their relatives was compared to controls whose infected family contacts were not treated. RESULTS: Helicobacter pylori was found in 67% of 31 siblings younger than 18, in 82% of 22 siblings older than 18 years, and in 87% of 92 parents. Endoscopy, repeated four to six weeks after the end of treatment, showed Helicobacter pylori eradication in 94% of children and siblings younger than 18, and in 70% of parents and siblings over 18 years in the family treatment group, compared with 75% of control children (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of the infection in family members suggests that person-to-person spread of Helicobacter pylori takes place. Furthermore our results show that if (or when) required, simultaneous treatment given to the whole family results in lower treatment failure, since it may promote compliance to treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Comparison of four diagnostic methods for detection of Helicobacter species in laboratory mice.

Four species of Helicobacter--H. muridarum, "H. rappini," H. hepaticus, and H. bilis--have been identified in the gastrointestinal tract of rodents. The association of Helicobacter species with chronic gastrointestinal diseases in mice has raised concern about their impact on research results. In this study, different methods for detection of Helicobacter species in the mouse intestinal tract were compared: polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of 16S rRNA gene sequences, bacterial culture, electron microscopy, and histologic examination (Steiner stain). The PCR method was more sensitive in detecting murine Helicobacter species than was culture, electron microscopy, or histologic examination. Of the cecal specimens identified as Helicobacter species-positive by PCR, approximately 60% were identified as positive by each of the other methods. An 87.5% concordance was obtained by PCR screening of DNA from fecal and cecal specimens. Differentiation among murine Helicobacter species by colony morphologic or histologic features was not possible. Scanning electron microscopy and histologic examination indicated greater numbers of helical microorganisms, specifically H. hepaticus, in the cecum than in the colon. These results indicate that the PCR assays used can be performed on feces as a noninvasive means for rapidly screening large numbers of colony mice for murine Helicobacter species.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Therapy of Helicobacter pylori infection using Lactobacillus acidophilus].

INTRODUCTION: In vitro experiments with Lactobacillus acidophilus have revealed its inhibitory effect on Helicobacter pylori and its application in treatment of Helicobacter pylori positive gastritis was examined. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 15 patients have undergone gastroscopy with biopsy and by histopathological examination. Helicobacter pylori positive gastritis was detected. During a two-month period these patients took acidophilus milk (3 x 250 ml a day) prepared according to a special protocol and which contained 4 x 10(9)-1 x 10(10) live cells of Lactobacillus acidophilus at the moment of preparation. Lactobacillus acidophilus strain NAS, gained from lyophilized preparation Bio-Nate (Natren Inc. USA) was used as a test organism. Control gastroscopy was performed 2 months later. RESULTS: 14 patients have completed the examination. All of them were satisfied with the taste of acidophilus milk and could stand it well, whereas in 6 out of 14 Helicobacter pylori was eradicated. DISCUSSION: Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy is recommended in all cases of Helicobacter pylori positive gastritis associated with peptic ulcer, as well as in absence of ulcer when subjective difficulties occur. Antibiotic therapy is often unsuccessful and most often associated with risks of significant adverse effects, being the consequence of intestinal microflora disorders. The aim of using Lactobacillus acidophilus in the therapy is to reduce risks of adverse effects. In our study, by using acidophilus milk only, without other therapy, eradication of Helicobacter pylori was achieved in 6 out of 14 patients. All patients could stand the therapy well and were satisfied with the taste of the preparation. The number of examinees was small in regard to making conclusions, but the results are encouraging and show that apart from established in vitro effect. Lactobacillus acidophilus has a potential in vivo effect.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Using polymerase chain reaction to detect Helicobacter heilmannii in gastric biopsy materials].

Helicobacter heilmannii is one of the species of Helicobacter other than Helicobacter pylori noticed in human gastric mucosa. In our study, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was designed for the detection of Helicobacter heilmannii in gastric biopsy specimens. Two broad-range bacterial 16S rDNA primers and one Helicobacter genus-specific 16S rDNA primer were matched for detecting Helicobacter genus bacteria. A Hp-specific primer pair was used simultaneously to exclude the presence of Hp. The PCR assay detected 11 out of 12 Hh strains which were confirmed by smears, but did not amplify DNA extracts from some other enteric bacteria such as E. coli, C. jejuni, bifidobacteria. Serial dilution experiments revealed the detection of as little as 0.1 pg DNA by PCR and 0.01 pg by nested PCR. Our data showed that PCR is a rapid, accurate and sensitive method for the detection of Hh and is thought valuable in the epidemiological investigation of Helicobacter and follow-up studies after treatment.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1991

Evaluation of fingerprinting methods for identification of Helicobacter pylori strains.

Variation amongst strains of Helicobacter pylori was examined by 35S-methionine-labelled protein SDS-PAGE (Radio-PAGE), immunoblot and DNA fingerprinting techniques. These methods allowed discrimination amongst isolates and showed total correlation. Pig and baboon gastric Helicobacter pylori-like organisms were found to be very similar to Helicobacter pylori by both Radio-PAGE and immunoblotting, whereas a Helicobacter mustelae isolate was markedly different. The HindIII restriction endonuclease digest patterns of Helicobacter pylori DNA illustrated the considerable genomic variation of this organism. The Radio-PAGE and immunoblot typing methods both gave precise identification of Helicobacter pylori strains, but Radio-PAGE was found to give higher resolution and represents a standardised universally applicable fingerprinting method for Helicobacter pylori.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Flavonoids with anti-Helicobacter pylori activity from Cistus laurifolius leaves.

Cistus laurifolius flower buds are used traditionally in folk medicine against gastric ailments. In a prior study we showed that the chloroform extract of Cistus laurifolius had a potent anti-ulcer activity. It has been known that there is a causal relationship between peptic ulcer and Helicobacter pylori infection. Then in a previous study, we demonstrated that chloroform extract of Cistus laurifolius possessed a significant anti-Helicobacter pylori activity. We designed this study to isolate and define the active component(s) involved in the anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of the extract through activity-guided fractionation procedures. The chloroform extract was fractionated by using various chromatography techniques, i.e., Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and preparative thin layer chromatography and six compounds were isolated (1-6). Each of these six compounds' anti-Helicobacter pylori activity was tested in vitro and was measured as minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) values by using agar dilution method. The compound 2 had the highest activity against Helicobacter pylori (MIC 3.9 microg/mL). Its chemical structure was elucidated as quercetin 3-methyl ether (isorhamnetin) by various spectroscopic techniques. We believe that the therapeutic effect of Cistus laurifolius in ulcer is at least partially related to its effect on Helicobacter pylori. We hope that the isolated flavonoid having anti-Helicobacter pylori activity ultimately can be utilized as an alternative or additive agent to the current therapy.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1997

Detection of Helicobacter pylori in biopsy of patients with gastric carcinoma.

Superficial chronic gastritis caused by Helicobacter pylori may lead potentially to the development of atrophic gastritis, a precursor of gastric carcinoma. Based on histological studies, the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in gastric cancer patients, has been reported to vary widely from 38% to 100%. This positivity rate tends to be higher in patients with gastric cancer in early stage than in those with advanced malignant disease, probably, due to the relative mild atrophic and intestinal metaplastic changes of the surrounding gastric mucosa that occur in the former group. The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection is not related to the anatomical localization of cancer in the stomach. The inclusion of cases in advanced stages of disease and the examination of a few small-sized number of gastric specimens may explain the discrepant findings reported so far regarding the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with gastric cancer. We found a strong association between Helicobacter pylori infection and the occurrence of gastric carcinoma. Therefore, Helicobacter pylori may be an important carcinogenetic factor for the occurrence of malignant disease in the stomach. Cure of Helicobacter pylori infection may potentially reduce the incidence of gastric cancer.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1999

Essential role of Helicobacter pylori gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase for the colonization of the gastric mucosa of mice.

Constitutive expression of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) activity is common to all Helicobacter pylori strains, and is used as a marker for identifying H. pylori isolates. Helicobacter pylori GGT was purified from sonicated extracts of H. pylori strain 85P by anion exchange chromatography. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of two of the generated endo-proteolysed peptides were determined, allowing the cloning and sequencing of the corresponding gene from a genomic H. pylori library. The H. pylori ggt gene consists of a 1681 basepair (bp) open reading frame encoding a protein with a signal sequence and a calculated molecular mass of 61 kDa. Escherichia coli clones harbouring the H. pylori ggt gene exhibited GGT activity at 37 degrees C, in contrast to E. coli host cells (MC1061, HB101), which were GGT negative at 37 degrees C. GGT activity was found to be constitutively expressed by similar genes in Helicobacter felis, Helicobacter canis, Helicobacter bilis, Helicobacter hepaticus and Helicobacter mustelae. Western immunoblots using rabbit antibodies raised against a His-tagged-GGT recombinant protein demonstrated that H. pylori GGT is synthesized in both H. pylori and E. coli as a pro-GGT that is processed into a large and a small subunit. Deletion of a 700 bp fragment within the GGT-encoding gene of a mouse-adapted H. pylori strain (SS1) resulted in mutants that were GGT negative yet grew normally in vitro. These mutants, however, were unable to colonize the gastric mucosa of mice when orally administered alone or together (co-infection) with the parental strain. These results demonstrate that H. pylori GGT activity has an essential role for the establishment of the infection in the mouse model, demonstrating for the first time a physiological role for a bacterial GGT enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Detection of Helicobacter species in liver and stomach tissues of patients with chronic liver diseases using polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and immunohistochemistry.

OBJECTIVE: Helicobacter DNA has been detected in the hepatobiliary tree of patients with chronic liver diseases (CLD). The presence of H. pylori in the stomach compared with in the liver of the same patients with CLD has not been studied, therefore to the aim of this study was to investigate the presence of Helicobacter DNA and antigens in the liver and stomach of Polish patients with chronic liver diseases using molecular and immunological methods. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Gastric mucosa and liver tissue samples and sera were collected from 97 Polish patients with CLD. Anti-H. pylori antibodies were detected by enzyme immunoassay (EIA), and H. pylori-like antigens detected by immunohistochemistry. Helicobacter DNA was detected in stomach and liver samples using a semi-nested Helicobacter genus-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, and Helicobacter species identified by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and sequencing analysis of amplified PCR products. RESULTS: H. pylori was identified by DGGE and sequence analysis in 60/62 (97%) and 25/25 (100%) of the gastric and liver Helicobacter genus-positive samples, respectively, whereas DNA of H. heilmannii was detected in 2/62 (3%) of the Helicobacter genus-positive gastric samples. H. pylori cagA gene was detected in 23/62 (36%) and 3/25 (12%) gastric and liver tissue samples, respectively. H. pylori-like antigens were detected in 61/97 (63%) gastric mucosa and in 40/97 (41%) liver tissue samples. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori-like organisms appeared to dominate the gastric mucosa and liver tissue of Polish patients with CLD. The prevalence of the cagA gene was higher in stomach compared with liver samples, which suggests a possible role of cagA negative H. pylori-like organisms in CLD. On the other hand, no significant correlation was found between the presence of H. pylori-like DNA and antigens in the liver and liver function tests.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Coccoid Helicobacter pylori not culturable in vitro reverts in mice.

An experimental rodent model was used to demonstrate the viability of the coccoid form of Helicobacter pylori. Concentrated suspensions were prepared for the two different morphologies: at 2 days incubation for the bacillary forms and at 20 days incubation for the "dormant" forms. The strains used for incubation were two fresh isolates from humans with duodenal ulceration, and two collection strains. Five hundred microliters of culture (OD550 = 5 Mc Farland) of Helicobacter pylori with bacillary (2-5 x 10(9) CFU/ml) and coccoid (0 CFU/ml) morphology were inoculated intragastrically in BALB/c mice. The gastric mucosa of the mice was colonized by Helicobacter pylori with the administration of fresh bacillary and coccoid cultures and not with the established cultures. Helicobacter pylori was isolated at 1 week after inoculation with the administration of fresh bacillary cultures, while fresh coccoid Helicobacter pylori was recovered in mice stomachs after 2 weeks of inoculation. After colonization, histopathologic changes occurred after 1 month from inoculation; all colonized mice showed a systemic antibody response to Helicobacter pylori. These results support the thesis of the viability of coccoid Helicobacter pylori non-culturable in vitro and confirm that concentrated bacterial suspensions are able to colonize and to produce gastric alterations in this suitable animal model.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1998

Mycoplasma contamination of canine gastric biopsy samples and cultures of gastric Helicobacter spp.

Helicobacter felis and H. bizzozeronii are canine gastric helicobacters related to H. pylori. The growth of gastric helicobacters requires a complex medium including blood and serum. We found that some of our blood agar cultures were contaminated with mycoplasmas, which were isolated from one biopsy sample and several blood agar cultures of canine gastric helicobacters by PCR or culture method. However, none of our other 18 Helicobacter strains, subcultured 10-15 times since 1990, were found to be contaminated when studied in spring 1996. Nor was horse serum used as a growth supporter found to be contaminated with mycoplasmas. All our mycoplasma isolates grew as pure cultures and as cocultures with H. bizzozeronii on a selective medium containing vancomycin, polymyxin B and trimethoprim used in cultivation of helicobacters. Our data suggest that mycoplasmas occurring on biopsy samples can grow as contaminants on Helicobacter cultures.

Agar↗
PubMed1998

Isolation and identification of Helicobacter spp. from canine and feline gastric mucosa.

It is known that virtually all healthy adult dogs and cats harbor spiral helicobacters in their gastric mucosa. Three species, Helicobacter felis, Helicobacter bizzozeronii, and Helicobacter salomonis have been isolated in vitro from the gastric mucosa of these animals. The aims of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of an isolation method for canine and feline gastric helicobacters that has been developed at the University of Helsinki; to estimate the prevalence and distribution of these taxa in the samples examined; and to assess the efficacy and validity of an extensive set of standardized conventional phenotypic tests, whole-cell protein profiling, and ultrastructural analysis in identifying the different species isolated from canine and feline gastric mucosa. We cultured 95 and 22 gastric mucosal biopsies from dogs and cats, respectively. Twenty-one H. bizzozeronii strains, 8 H. felis strains, 8 H. salomonis strains, 3 mixed cultures, 2 "Flexispira rappini"-like organisms, and 3 as yet uncharacterized strains were isolated from the dogs, and 3 H. felis strains were isolated from the cats. The methods used here yielded Helicobacter isolation rates of 51% from dogs and 13.6% from cats, which exceed those reported previously. The main difficulties were primary isolation, mixed cultures, and identification to the species level. In the species identification, a detailed morphological examination was found to yield important phenotypic characteristics. A large panel of biochemical and tolerance tests did not clearly differentiate the closely related species H. bizzozeronii, H. felis, and H. salomonis. Highly standardized whole-cell protein profiling was shown to be an excellent method for species identification. Improvements in culture conditions for these bacteria are still needed, especially for cats. A genetic identification method not requiring culture is needed for future studies of these very fastidious helicobacters, as the clinical significance and ecology of these species within the gastric mucosa of the domestic carnivores remain largely unknown.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Immune responses to bile-tolerant helicobacter species in patients with chronic liver diseases, a randomized population group, and healthy blood donors.

Bile-tolerant Helicobacter species such as Helicobacter pullorum, Helicobacter bilis, and Helicobacter hepaticus are associated with hepatic disorders in animals and may be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic liver diseases (CLD) in humans. Antibody responses to cell surface proteins of H. pullorum, H. bilis, and H. hepaticus in serum samples from patients with CLD, a randomized population group, and healthy blood donors were evaluated by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results were compared with the antibody responses to Helicobacter pylori. For analysis of a possible cross-reactivity between bile-tolerant Helicobacter species and H. pylori, sera from a subpopulation of each group were absorbed with a whole-cell extract of H. pylori and retested by ELISA. Results before absorption showed that the mean value of the ELISA units for H. pullorum was significantly higher in patients with CLD than in healthy blood donors (P = 0.01). Antibody reactivity to cell surface protein of H. hepaticus was also significantly higher in the CLD patients than in the healthy blood donors and the population group (P = 0.005 and P = 0.002, respectively). Following the absorption, antibody responses to H. pullorum decreased significantly in all three groups (P = 0.0001 for CLD patients, P = 0.0005 for the population group, and P < 0.0001 for the blood donors), indicating that cross-reactivity between H. pylori and other Helicobacter spp. occurs. The antibody responses to H. hepaticus and H. bilis in CLD patients remained high following absorption experiments compared to ELISA results before absorption. The significance of this finding requires further investigations.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Characterization and presumptive identification of Helicobacter pylori isolates from rhesus monkeys.

We characterized 38 Helicobacter isolates, including 22 from gastric biopsy samples obtained from 14 rhesus monkeys and single isolates from 16 monkeys in a different colony. Biochemical profiles of these isolates were nearly identical to that of Helicobacter pylori ATCC 43504. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis indicated that each infected monkey harbored one to four strains. The 17 RFLP types found among these 22 isolates differed from all seven RFLPs found among the other 16 isolates. Thus, monkeys within a given colony are more likely to be infected by Helicobacter isolates with the same or a similar RFLP than are monkeys from different colonies. A 16S rRNA gene was amplified by PCR and cloned from the Helicobacter isolate from rhesus monkey 85D08. Ribotyping with this probe demonstrated less diversity among isolates from rhesus monkeys than was reported among isolates of H. pylori from humans, as did RFLP analysis of a PCR fragment of the ureA-ureB gene cluster. The DNA sequence of the cloned 16S rRNA gene was determined and compared with sequences reported for H. pylori and other Helicobacter species. Our analysis of 127 nucleotides (corresponding with residues 1240 to 1366 of the Escherichia coli 16S rRNA gene) indicated that the Helicobacter isolate from monkey 85D08 was 99.2 to 100% homologous to isolates of H. pylori from humans but only 83.5 to 96.9% homologous with other Helicobacter species in this region of the 16S rRNA gene. These data provide strong support for the presumptive identification of these isolates as H. pylori.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Nutritional requirements and antibiotic resistance patterns of Helicobacter species in chemically defined media.

The growth of the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori in the absence of serum remains challenging, and nutritional requirements have only partially been defined, while almost nothing is known about nutritional requirements of other Helicobacter spp. Although previous data showed that H. pylori grows in the chemically defined medium F-12, but not in other tissue culture media examined, the specific components responsible for growth were not entirely understood. Here we describe the optimization of amino acids, metals, and sodium chloride for H. pylori. Iron, zinc, and magnesium were critical for growth; copper was not required. Optimization of sodium chloride was further beneficial. Nutritional requirements and antibiotic resistance patterns of several other Helicobacter spp. revealed that all except H. felis grew in serum-free, unsupplemented F-12. All Helicobacter spp. were resistant to at least six antimicrobial agents when cultured in the presence of serum. However, in the absence of serum, H. pylori, H. mustelae, and H. muridarum became sensitive to polymyxin B and/or trimethoprim. Much of the data were obtained using a convenient ATP assay to quantify growth. H. pylori has surprisingly few absolute requirements for growth: 9 amino acids, sodium and potassium chloride, thiamine, iron, zinc, magnesium, hypoxanthine, and pyruvate. These data suggest that H. pylori and other Helicobacter spp. are not as fastidious as previously thought. The data also suggest that chemically defined media described herein could yield the growth of a wide range of Helicobacter spp., allowing a more detailed characterization of Helicobacter physiology and interactions with host cells.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed2005

Detection of Helicobacter pylori and fecal indicator bacteria in five North American rivers.

This study examines the use of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) as a predictor of the presence of Helicobacter spp. A combination of standard culture and molecular techniques were used to detect and quantify FIB, Helicobacter spp. and H. pylori from five North American rivers of different size and with different land use characteristics. Primers designed to amplify genes specific to Helicobacter spp. and H. pylori were evaluated for their efficacy in detection and quantification in environmental samples. Helicobacter spp. were detected in 18/33 (55%) of river samples. H. pylori was detected in 11/33 (33%) of river samples. FIB were found in 32/33 (96%) of river samples. When FIB abundance exceeded USEPA water quality standards for single samples, Helicobacter or H. pylori were detected in 7/15 (47%) cases. No numerical correlation was found between the presence of FIB and either Helicobacter spp. or H. pylori. This suggests that the presence of FIB will be of limited use for detection of Helicobacter spp. or H. pylori by public health agencies.

Feces↗