title: [Role of Helicobacter pylori coccoid forms in infection and recrudescence].
abstract: Helicobacter pylori is a spiral Gram-negative bacillus, which colonizes the human stomach and plays a key role in the pathogenesis of a number of gastroduodenal diseases. However, when expose to environmental stressed conditions, such as increased oxygen tension, extended incubation and exposure to antibiotics, Helicobacter pylori is able to entering the viable but nonculturable state, in which the bacterium modifies its morphology from a spiral to coccoid form, as a manifestation of cell adaptation to these adverse conditions. In gastric tissues, viable coccoid forms may remain latent for long time and retain virulence factors, so these forms possibly contribute to the treatment failures and recurrence of Helicobacter pylori infection and gastroduodenal diseases as well. In this review, we will discuss several aspects of cellular adaptation and survival of Helicobacter pylori, antibiotic susceptibility and virulence of coccoid forms and its involvement with recrudescence.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Facultad de Medicina, Fundación H. A. Barceló, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: msarem@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Muhannad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarem
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Esófago y Estómago, Hospital Bonorino Udaondo, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Corti
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000145:classification*; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence; D013270:Stomach / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Formas cocoides de Helicobacter pylori; Helicobacter pylori coccoid forms; Recrudescence; Recrudescencia; Virulence of coccoid forms; Virulencia de las formas cocoides