Vaccination prevents Helicobacter pylori-induced alterations of the gastric flora in mice.
Molecular analysis of the gastric microflora in mice revealed that Helicobacter pylori infection causes an increase in microbial diversity. The stomachs of H. pylori-infected animals were colonized by bacteria which are naturally restricted to the lower intestinal tract. Clostridia, Bacteroides/Prevotella spp., Eubacterium spp., Ruminococcus spp., streptococci and Escherichia coli were detected exclusively in the stomachs of infected animals, whereas lactobacilli dominated the gastric flora in noninfected mice. The H. pylori-induced shifts in the gastric microbiota were independent from histological pathology and from changes in the gastric pH but were prevented by immunization of mice with live Salmonella expressing H. pylori urease. Immunized mice displayed reduced H. pylori levels in the gastric epithelium and developed a normal gastric microflora, indicating that vaccination may be protective against H. pylori-induced changes in the gastric flora.
Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany.
Toni
T
Aebischer
André
A
Fischer
Anna
A
Walduck
Cord
C
Schlötelburg
Mirko
M
Lindig
Sören
S
Schreiber
Thomas F
TF
Meyer
Stefan
S
Bereswill
Ulf B
UB
Göbel
D000818:Animals; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012475:Salmonella / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D014510:Urease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014611:Vaccination
D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D014510:Urease