title: How Helicobacter pylori acquired its name, and how it overcomes gastric defence mechanisms.
abstract: At Royal Perth Hospital, Western Australia in April 1982, spiral bacteria were first cultured from a gastric biopsy specimen. Several important taxonomic features were identified which indicated that these bacteria represented a new genus. In October 1989 the new genus name Helicobacter was published. Helicobacter pylori overcomes gastric defence mechanisms by means of its powerful urease enzyme, by its spiral shape allowing it to penetrate mucus, by adherence to the gastric mucosa and by various mechanisms which enable it to evade the immune response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Goodwin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D013270:Stomach / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014904:Western Australia