[Is the association of Helicobacter pylori with humans a classical example of parasitism?].
Since the first report of the potential role of Helicobacter pylori as cause of disease of the upper intestinal tract of humans, a major controversial has developed. First, the role of H. pylori as the etiological agent of duodenal and gastric ulcer has been questioned. Second, the possibility of H. pylori as a major risk factor in the development of distal gastric cancer has not been fully accepted. It is interesting that at the time when the etiological role of H. pylori is almost universally accepted, series of publications have suggested that the elimination of H. pylori from asymptomatic individuals might represent a risk for the development of other upper gastrointestinal diseases such as GERD and cancer of the esophagus. The main goal of this revision is to describe the virulence factors associated with H. pylori as well as its interaction with the human host, to establish whether H. pylori should be considered a true pathogen or only a commensal.
Pérez-Pérez
G I
GI
Division of Infectious Diseases, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA. guillermo.perez-perez@med.nyu.edu
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D005756:Gastritis / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000209:etiology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008954:Models, Biological; D011323:Primates / Q000382:microbiology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D013559:Symbiosis; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C074689:VacA protein, Helicobacter pylori; C080866:cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori